Zero Rss

Meta Ordered To Pay $567 Million In New Mexico For Children's Mental Health Fund

A New Mexico state judge on Aug. 6 ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a fund dedicated to remedying the harm caused to children’s mental health by the company’s social media platforms.

Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

State judge Bryan Biedscheid said in a 68-page order that most of the total youth mental health fund, or $420 million, would go toward treatment services for children harmed by social media.

The remainder of the fund would be directed toward awareness and prevention, screening and assessment, referrals and coordination, and implementation, according to the order.

“The Court finds that the weight of the evidence presented demonstrates that Meta’s platforms are a cause of and substantial contributing factor to the youth mental health crisis in New Mexico,” the judge wrote.

Furthermore, as Aldgra Fredly reports for The Epoch Times, in his ruling, Biedscheid ordered the company to delete the accounts of users under 13, along with all personal information collected from those accounts, and simplify the steps for reporting underage users.

Meta was also ordered to disable push notifications on its platforms for users under 18 between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on all days, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on school days during the academic year.

The company is also required to implement mandatory usage time limits for those accounts and hide, by default, all like counts on their content unless a parent or guardian authorizes a change to the default setting.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez hailed the ruling as a victory for parents and children, saying that youngsters deserve to have a safer environment online.

“This case has always been about protecting children, standing up for families, and making sure that one of the world’s largest technology companies cannot profit from practices that endanger young people without consequence,” Torrez said in a statement.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a post on X that the company disagreed with the ruling and planned to appeal, noting that Meta had been working to remove bad actors and harmful content from its platforms.

“We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts,” Stone said.

The latest penalty comes on top of the $375 million fines that a New Mexico jury imposed on Meta in March for violating the state’s Unfair Practices Act by failing to disclose the potential risks of its social media platforms to children.

New Mexico sued Meta in December 2023, alleging that the company’s social media platforms served as a “breeding ground” for predators targeting children for human trafficking, sexual image distribution, grooming, and solicitation.

Meta denied the allegations, saying at the time that it uses advanced technology to root out bad actors and employs child safety experts. The company also said that it shares information and tools with other companies and law enforcement, including state attorneys general, to help identify predators.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 10:40

Wall Street Crowns First Solar As Clear Winner After Trump's Polysilicon Tariffs Create "Structural Floor" For Industry

Solar stocks are shining in premarket trading in New York after the Trump administration announced a new 15% tariff and a price floor on imports of polysilicon derivatives, including silicon wafers, photovoltaic cells, and solar modules. The move is intended to secure the domestic solar supply chain after years of cheap Chinese panels flooding the country, making it uneconomical for domestic manufacturers to compete.

"Polysilicon is the base material underpinning the security of America's semiconductor and solar-power supply chains. Yet for decades, America has allowed foreign countries to weaken United States producers in the polysilicon sector ‑- eroding our economic and national security. Today, I am taking action to put a stop to these practices and revitalize the United States polysilicon sector," President Trump wrote in an overnight executive order.

The Trump administration's order is less a conventional tariff increase and more of a reset of the US solar-module pricing regime. The new framework, combining a 15% tariff with minimum import prices, could lift utility-scale module prices into the low-to-mid 40-cent-per-watt range from roughly 30 cents.

Analysts from several desks, including BMO Capital Markets, Truist Securities, Citi, and others, point to First Solar as the clear winner.

"We expect the immediate market reaction to favor FSLR given enhanced long-term pricing power and terminal value implications, while utility solar-exposed names including NXT, ARRY, SHLS and FLNC could face near-term pressure as investors reassess project economics and deployment costs," BMO analyst Ameet Thakkar wrote.

Thakkar noted, "In this report we analyze the structure and implementation of the new tariff framework, the implications for module pricing and domestic manufacturing economics, potential upside to FSLR valuation and ASPs, the 120-day implementation window, and our continued constructive view on NXT despite likely near-term volatility."

Moses Sutton at BNP Paribas outlined FSLR as the "biggest, long-awaited winner" and highlighted how a new "structural 'floor' for industry" is being created.

What other desks are saying (courtesy of Bloomberg):

Citi

• Analyst Vikram Bagri notes that the polysilicon tariffs are largely in line with expectations and sees upside for First Solar
• "For FSLR, the benefits are a minimum import price for poly/cells/ingots/wafers/modules, which may be adjusted at Commerce's discretion to reflect market conditions, a 15% ad valorem on downstream poly derivatives, application to warehoused inventory plus anti-stockpiling provisions"
• Notes that countries that adopt their own minimum import price may be able to claim favorable treatment for their exports to the US, which would be negative for US firms

Truist Securities

• Analyst Christopher Souther sees First Solar as the biggest beneficiary of the tariffs and notes that the company's module price is below the minimum import price
• "In our view, this further reinforces First Solar's competitive moat, as the company already benefits from a US-based manufacturing footprint, Section 45X tax credits, and existing trade protections"
• Notes that the exemption paths for US module manufacturers may reduce the benefit for First Solar in out years

Barclays

• Analyst Christine Cho sees the polysilicon tariffs raising the cost of imported modules to around $0.44 per watt
• "The Section 232 outcome is more positive for FSLR than we and the Street were expecting and would seem to support ASPs to move somewhere in the low to mid $0.40/w range"

In premarket trading, FSLR is up 4%, Enphase Energy +2%, Array Technologies +2%, SolarEdge Technologies +2%, and T1 Energy +6%. The Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) is up nearly 3%. 

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 10:10

Houston, We Have A (Data) Problem...

Authored by Peter Tchir via Academy Securities,

Normally, you can find some parts of the job report that “fight” against the headline. That somewhere in the details is a potentially different narrative.

Maybe it’s because I’m lazy on a summer Friday, but difficult to see what it is in this report.

But let’s start with the most important point

Instead of worrying about Warsh, what he did or didn’t say, how often he might or might not say things, to who he may or may not speak to, maybe we should worry about making decisions based on garbage data?

As you know, I’ve argued for years that it seems insane that in this day and age, where we have real time data on almost every aspect of our lives, we are content to kind of stick a finger in the air, and take a wild stab at estimating jobs. I think the data source task force is the most important (and potentially useful thing Warsh has created). The data task force is too limited in scope, if anything.

Establishment headline is -23k. Estimate was 80k.

Revisions for past two months were -103k! Maybe the estimate would not have been for 80k, if the initial reports for the prior months reflected reality and didn’t need to be revised lower?

Not sure this is “good” news for the workers, but wage growth was anemic (even as the renewed fighting in the Middle East is pushing up the price of energy products).

The unemployment rate has dropped from 4.3% to 4.1% in the past two months. On the surface, maybe that is good. But the unemployment rate is based on the household survey which had a loss of 87k this month, which is “better” than last month’s loss of 507k jobs. The 4 month total number of jobs in the household survey is month than 600,000 lost jobs! The unemployment rate is only lower because the participation rate has dropped from 61.8% to 61.4% in two months (let’s not forget, this is occurring with record cap ex on data center/AI build).

Okay, now my “favorite” the birth/death model. I will admit I’m not sure how the seasonally adjusted birth/death model translates into a number of jobs in the establishment survey, but this “model” showed 235k jobs added by new businesses being formed. Maybe companies are being formed to take advantage of the AI/Data Center spend. It is in line with last July’s birth/death adjustment, so maybe it didn’t impact things. But I always struggle when “plugs” or “models” seem to be bigger than the actual numbers.

Honestly, I have no idea if today’s numbers are the aberration or whether it was what was originally reported, but that is the point!

How are we making decisions based on data that seems to be a wild guess (apologies to wild guesses)?

Sure, if there is no way to get better, more accurate, timely data, then we’d have to live with it. We had to live with carrier pigeons at one time.

I find it difficult to believe that a nation that put astronauts on the moon, cannot figure out a better way to calculate data that is so crucial to decision making!

So, yes, Houston, we have a problem, but the bigger problem isn’t today’s numbers, it is that we don’t really know what numbers are correct or not!

On the other hand, my view that we don’t see a hike this year looks better today, than it did a week ago (and that is with no “deal” in Iran, which any deal, will also help).

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 09:40

Islamic Society Sues City Over Rejection Of Mosque Proposal

Authored by Tom Gantert via The Epoch Times,

The Islamic Society of Tulsa has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and four individual city council members after the city denied its request to build a mosque and Islamic community center.

The suit, which was filed on Aug. 3, alleges the denial violated the U.S. Constitution, the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and Oklahoma law by discriminating against Muslims.

The city of Broken Arrow said in an email to The Epoch Times that it does not comment on lawsuits. The city acknowledged on July 28 that the U.S. Department of Justice had started an investigation into the matter.

“The City Council and Administration are fully engaged with the DOJ in its investigation,” the city stated, adding it would have no further comment.

The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is investigating whether Broken Arrow violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act after denying the rezoning application for the Islamic Society of Tulsa.

According to the complaint, the Islamic Society of Tulsa bought about 15 acres of land in Broken Arrow in 2014 with the intention of building a mosque, a community center, and a small commercial development.

City planning staff concluded the proposal complied with the city’s comprehensive plan and recommended approval. The Broken Arrow Planning Commission also voted to recommend approval after a lengthy public hearing.

The lawsuit claims the proposal was rejected by the City Council after “a wave of bigoted opposition from members of the community and local politicians.”

Despite recommendations from city staff and the Planning Commission, the City Council voted 4–1 on Jan. 12 to deny both the rezoning request and the conditional use permit.

The lawsuit further alleges the city approved similar rezoning and permitting requests for Christian churches and commercial developments while allowing those applicants to address traffic and engineering issues later in the approval process.

The complaint seeks a court order allowing the project to proceed, a declaration that the city’s actions were unlawful, and monetary damages including attorneys’ fees.

It also notes the DOJ’s investigation into whether the city violated federal religious land-use protections.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking the Trump administration to halt the DOJ investigation.

In a letter to President Donald Trump and acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, Drummond called the investigation “federal overreach” and said land-use decisions should be left to state and local officials.

Drummond also asked the DOJ to withdraw requests for records involving private citizens, require senior-level approval for any further investigative steps, and coordinate with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office before taking additional action against Oklahoma municipalities.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 09:20

Bonds & Bullion Jump, Dollar Dumps As Rate-Hike Odds Slump After Payrolls Miss

As we noted in our preview, today's payrolls print was indeed "bad news is good news" as the surprise five-sigma miss (-23k) on payrolls (albeit with a drop in the unemployment rate) sent rate-hike odds reeling lower...

“History doesn’t repeat, but sometimes it rhymes. For the third time in as many years, July jobs data saw a mid-summer loss of momentum. While incoming inflation data will be the ultimate arbiter, slowing jobs growth helps support a September hold,” says Lindsay Rosner, head of multi sector fixed income investing at Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

That helped smash Treasury yields lower, led by the short-end...

...which in turn crushed the dollar...

...lifting gold above $4350...

Some good news for Bessent, JPY is strengthening...

Stocks are also soaring, with Nasdaq leading the way...

Admittedly, as JPMorgan's Feroli flagged, technical effects such unwinding of World Cup-related hiring could have driven the softer payroll print...

Jeffrey Rosenberg, a portfolio manager at BlackRock, says on Bloomberg TV, “I’d be hesitant to just write this report off.”

He says that the decline in the unemployment rate essentially reflects a drop in the supply side of the labor market. 

... but for now, the panic among the Fed whisperers that Warsh has unleashed more uncertainty (and is driving up the term premium) is now a back story as attention shifts from inflation back to growth.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 09:05

Winter Is Coming: Europe Faces Twin Diesel And NatGas Crunch

Samantha Dart, co-head of global commodities research at Goldman Sachs, began the week by telling Bloomberg TV that the global diesel-supply crunch is "what keeps her up at night." She followed up Wednesday with a client note warning that European natural gas storage levels are also lagging the seasonal average ahead of the winter heating period.

Benchmark TTF futures have fallen 7% this week to about 54 euros per megawatt-hour, but Dart maintained her 60-euro balance-of-third-quarter forecast. She noted that Northwest European LNG imports missed July expectations by 2.1 million tons on an annualized basis, leaving storage just 43% full at month-end versus the 45.5% projected.

The latest Bloomberg data shows that Europe's NatGas storage is about 57.87% full, roughly 18 percentage points below the 2009–25 average.

"Specifically, the July miss in European LNG imports (and the resulting miss in storage fill) vs our expectations suggest that European gas storage still has some catching up to do, while LNG supply availability remains uncertain," Dart wrote in the note.

Dart continued, emphasizing that Europe must accelerate NatGas injections to reach her 67% storage target by the end of October. Higher potential Qatari exports, weaker Asian spot demand and reduced Egyptian imports could free additional cargoes for Europe, though an early drop in TTF prices risks redirecting LNG back toward Asia.

Dart warned that if Gulf energy exports recover only gradually, December TTF prices may need to exceed 100 euros to curb Asian demand. A faster reopening of the Hormuz maritime chokepoint could push prices to 40 euros.

Dart continued:

On net, we still see risks to our winter TTF price forecast skewed to the upside. In a scenario where Middle East energy exports normalize only gradually through 2027, we estimate that Dec26 TTF would likely need to move above 100 EUR/MWh, 110% above our 50 EUR/MWh base case, to significantly discourage Asia LNG demand. In contrast, we estimate that a faster-than-expected ramp of Hormuz flows would allow TTF to sell off back in line with the coal-to-gas switching threshold of 40 EUR/MWh, 20% below our current Dec26 TTF price base case.

Putting it all together, if disruptions in the Hormuz persist, Europe could enter winter with NatGas and diesel inventories well below seasonal norms, setting the stage for another surge in energy prices.

Professional subscribers can read more NatGas notes at our new Marketdesk.ai portal.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 08:55

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan Sign Islamic NATO-Style Defense Pact Amid Iran War

On Friday Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a major defense agreement as leaders gathered in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It seeks to strengthen joint deterrence and expanding defense cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It is essentially a NATO-style agreement for the 'Muslim world' - given that it stipulates and formalizes that an armed attack on any of the countries will be treated as an attack against all of them.

Formally called the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, it "reflects the three nations’ commitment to bolstering their collective security and promoting peace, security and stability in the region and the wider world," SPA reported.

The combined estimated population of these Muslim-majority countries is 380 million people, or according to the high estimates... approaching 400 million.

Al Jazeera comments on the significance of the historic pact as follows:

This is more than a diplomatic get-together and the signing of an agreement.

This essentially puts three of the largest Muslim populations together on the roadmap for joint peace, for deterring any act of aggression against them, for making sure that they are in tune with each other when it comes to intelligence sharing, gathering all of the information that is required, and also enhancing cooperation in all sorts of spheres – whether it’s energy, defence expenditure or manufacturing, among others.

Pakistan brings with it, obviously, its nuclear arsenal, battle-hardened military, and munitions it has been supplying. Turkiye, with its advanced drone and munitions systems, is a NATO member, combined with the economic power of Saudi Arabia.

The three of them combined now present a force that will take this region towards a different security architecture than the one in place over the last few decades, especially in the wake of the Iran war.

Indeed this further formalizes Pakistan's nuclear umbrella for Saudi Arabia, which lacks atomic weapons. Turkey does not have its own nukes either, but plays host to US nuclear weapons as part of NATO. Turkey maintains the second-largest military within the NATO alliance, behind the United States.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already have a bilateral defense pact, somewhat recently inked, which has lately seen Islamabad deploy 8,000 troops, a ​squadron of fighter jets, and an air defense system to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi kingdom has lately been subject of sporadic 'retaliatory' attacks from Iran in the context of the war, and has earlier even responded by launching numerous unpublicized strikes on Iran.

And so already on the inking of the historic Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, one of the signatories finds itself (unwillingly) on the front lines of a conflict - given it also plays host to American forces - though isn't necessarily a key, direct participant in it. The Saudis have thus far relied largely on US defenses to protect themselves.

Turkey has opposed Trump's Operation Epic Fury, and is an avowed enemy of Israel - and so this pact will only serve to further distance Saudi Arabia from entering the Abrahama Accords and establishing lasing normalization with Israel.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 08:35

Can Sam Altman Be Trusted Inside Your Home? Meet OpenAI's New Always-On Smart Speaker

Trust remains OpenAI's biggest problem. Sam Altman's public feud with Elon Musk, combined with Apple's allegations that OpenAI stole trade secrets, has only intensified concerns surrounding the company's leadership and governance.

Amid this glaring trust issue, OpenAI now wants to place what Bloomberg describes as "essentially a smart speaker without a display" inside millions of homes.

Equipped with microphones, cameras, and environmental sensors, the $300 device would function as an always-on intelligence platform, potentially collecting voice, visual, behavioral, and household data.

OpenAI’s first device is a smart speaker without a display and costs $300+. Here is a ChatGPT mock-up based on article:

▫️doughnut/ring shape
▫️size of a hockey puck
▫️have camera, speakers, microphone, lights
▫️interactive moving parts to make it feel “more alive” than… https://t.co/xmlPJniAd1 pic.twitter.com/qf1THJFNwT

— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) August 6, 2026

The unresolved question is not what the device can perceive, but what OpenAI will retain, analyze, and ultimately monetize.

Bloomberg added more color on the device:

OpenAI is looking to break new ground with the product, which is slated for release in 2027. The device will be positioned as an AI-first computer that can help users get things done, the people said.

OpenAI's smart speaker was designed with Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio and represents the startup's first major push into consumer hardware. Apple's lawsuit alleging the misuse of proprietary metal-finishing techniques could complicate the rollout, though OpenAI denies the claims and insists it is building something fundamentally different from Apple's products.

Amazon's Alexa devices and other smart speakers have already exposed major privacy risks to consumers. OpenAI's ambition to learn users' routines, observe their surroundings, and personalize interactions raises these concerns even higher, particularly when trust in Altman's AI startup remains complicated.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 08:30

Futures Rise Ahead Of Closely Watched Jobs Report

US futures grind higher in a European session devoid of newsflow ahead of nonfarm payrolls. As of 815am ET, S&P futures rose 0.2% while Nasdaq futures gained 0.4%, with some of yesterday’s beaten up tech names such as Sandisk and Western Digital getting some reprieve in the premarket. Asian stocks swung between a loss of as much as 0.5% and gain of 0.4%. South Korea’s Kospi declined as much as 2.2% before paring the loss; the index was headed to its seventh weekly drop, longest losing streak in more than three years. Nikkei and Taiex indexes also drift lower while indexes rose in mainland China.  Oil was given a boost in APAC hours as progress on an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remained elusive and a report noted that Iran attacked “hostile targets” in the Strait of Hormuz; but upside has since wavered with Brent now in the red and near session lows. US yields which track oil tick for tick, are down around 1bps across the curve with odds of a September Fed hike at around 60% as the clock ticks down to jobs data. The dollar is down 0.1% after posting its biggest advance in two weeks during the New York session. USD/JPY is maintaining its position on a 158 handle. Precious metals are marching higher with spot gold trading on a $4300/oz handle for the first time since mid-June. Bitcoin is up 0.7%. On today's calendar we get the US July jobs report; other data releases include NY Fed 1-yr inflation expectations, June consumer credit. The Fed’s Barkin will also speak today.

In premarket trading, Mag 7 stocks are mixed (Tesla +0.7%, Amazon +0.6%, Alphabet +0.1%, Nvidia +0.1%, Apple -0.2%, Meta -0.4%, Microsoft -0.5%)

• Applied Opto (AAOI) is up 14% after second-quarter earnings and revenue from the fiber-optic networking gear firm beat estimates. Peers including Fabrinet and Coherent gain.
• Atlassian (TEAM) soars 32% after the maker of Trello collaborative software reported an increase in quarterly revenue, easing concerns that AI would hurt the business.
• Cloudflare (NET) rallies 17% after the software company hikes its annual profit forecast, beating the average analyst estimate.
• DraftKings (DKNG) shares slip 3.6% in premarket trading after the sports-betting company reported revenue and adjusted Ebitda for the second quarter that fell short of the average analyst estimate.
• Doximity (DOCS) soars 78% after the company raised its revenue forecast for fiscal 2027.
• Figs (FIGS) jumps 29% after the medical-apparel maker posted a beat on second quarter results and upped its forecast for full-year adjusted Ebitda margin.
• Gold and silver stocks are rising in premarket Friday, with gold on track for its best week in more than six months as dip buyers supported prices.
• Maplebear Inc. (CART), doing business as Instacart, jumps 12% after the company’s forecast for third-quarter gross transaction value beat the average analyst estimate.
• Sezzle (SEZL) slides 22% as analysts look past the financial technology firm’s outlook upgrade for 2026, and say expectations had already built up around the earnings following the stock 181% year-to-date rally.
• Solar stocks rise in premarket Friday after President Donald Trump ordered new 15% tariffs and a price floor for imports of polysilicon derivatives, including silicon wafers, photovoltaic cells and solar modules.
• Sweetgreen (SG) sinks 15% after the salad chain cut its annual outlook after warning that diners are less willing to eat fresh prepared foods during the cyclospora outbreak.
• Trade Desk (TTD) tumbles 27% after the advertising technology company#s reported earnings for the second quarter and gave a third-quarter-revenue forecast that missed analyst estimates. At least four brokerages downgraded their rating on the stock

In other news, SK Hynix plans a 54 trillion won ($38 billion) expansion of its DRAM and NAND manufacturing in South Korea, part of the giant outlay announced earlier in the summer. Jane Street is negotiating with investors in a private-credit deal to rework the firm’s $11 billion debt load and limit its financial disclosures to market participants. The FAA has asked operators of 471 Boeing 737 Max jets to undertake checks for cracks of a component that could undermine the structural integrity of the aircraft.

Ahead of today's main event, the July jobs data at 8:30am (full preview here), which will give Warsh further insight into whether to keep rates on hold or hike, the median estimate for nonfarm payrolls change is 80k, following 57k in June. Crowd-sourced whisper number is currently 78k.  JPMorgan market intelligence scenarios show that a hawkish reading, leading to negative market reaction, would be a print above 150k. Stronger-than-expected data could trigger a pullback in risk assets by reinforcing expectations that rates will stay higher for longer. Goldman notes that alternative measures of employment growth slowed modestly in July. 

“Kevin Warsh’s ambiguity at the July FOMC means data releases like today’s payrolls carry greater risks of an outsized market reaction,” ING Bank strategists including Frantisek Taborsky wrote in a note. “We are still looking at no Fed cuts and dollar softening going forward.”

“A weaker top-line figure will be enough to spark rallies in Treasuries even if it’s paired with subdued unemployment, because slowdown risk would begin to make its way onto the curve if fixed-income investors fear that rosters could start contracting,” José Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers, wrote in a note.

Oil retreated from Thursday’s sharp rise as traders weighed negotiations between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz against renewed tensions, with Tehran seeking to bar US ships from a deal to partially restore shipping through the critical waterway. Brent crude fell 0.7% to below $82 a barrel, bringing its decline this week to 6.9%.

Elsewhere, BofA’s Michael Hartnett said EPS optimism is soaring, while recommending investors retreat from risk assets and/or rotate into some defensives (staples), duration (REITs, small cap, biotech) and US dollar, all protected from ongoing tightening of financial conditions. The BofA Bull & Bear Indicator rises to 9.7 from 9.4, the highest since 2021 and in “sell signal” territory.

The Stoxx 600 rose 0.6% as European equities edged higher on Friday with technology and health care stocks leading gains, while the biggest laggards are telecommunications and energy shares. Novo Nordisk A/S climbed 4.6% after a US judge threw out an antitrust lawsuit against its blockbuster weight-loss drug.  Among other movers in Europe, Kingspan Group Plc surged to a four-year high after the insulation specialist lifted full-year guidance. Genmab A/S jumped 8.3% after the Danish biotech company reported better-than-expected second quarter profit and boosted its outlook for the full year. Daimler Truck Holding AG fell 4% after reporting results. Here are the biggest movers Friday:

• Kingspan shares rise as much 17% after the insulation specialist topped expectations in the first half and lifted its trading profit guidance for the full year
• Genmab jumps as much as 10%, the most since February 2024, after the Danish biotech company reported better-than-expected revenue and operating income for the second quarter and boosted its outlook for the full year
• Novo Nordisk gains as much as 5.4%, outperforming the Stoxx 600 Health Care Index and putting the stock back into positive territory for the week
• Mol rises as much as 2.6% after the Hungarian refiner reported Clean CCS Ebitda for the second quarter that beat the average analyst estimate
• Aurubis shares drop as much as 5.7%, extending Thursday’s 5.5% decline following the copper smelter’s one-year delay to a new American smelting complex. Deutsche Bank cut its price target slightly
• Daimler Truck falls as much as 4.4% after the German firm announced weaker orders than analysts had expected and softer third-quarter guidance after its second-quarter results were pre-released last month
• Stellantis drops as much as 3.8% as the carmaker was downgraded to underperform from market-perform at Bernstein, which says there is still substantial scope for estimate reductions
• Orlen slips as much as 3.5% after the Polish refiner reported second-quarter results that analysts described as mixed. Wood & Co analysts cited disappointing oil & gas production despite favorable market conditions
• Amrize drops as much as 11%, on course to close at a record-low, after the building-materials company missed earnings expectations in the second quarter and cut its adjusted Ebitda guidance for the year
• Lanxess falls as much as 6.2% after the German chemical firm posted results that Goldman Sachs analysts said offered little to sustain recent positive momentum
• Munich Re declines as much as 5.3%, the most since May and the worst performer on the Stoxx 600 Insurance Index, after the German reinsurer cut its insurance revenue guidance for the year
• Erdemir falls as much as 6.6%, the most since May 21, as its second-quarter profit beat was attributed to a positive tax expense rather than operations

Asian stocks traded in a narrow range, as investors stayed cautious ahead of US payrolls data while awaiting concrete signs of progress on a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index swung between a loss of as much as 0.5% and gain of as much as 0.4%. South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.6%, while indexes in China advanced.  SK Hynix narrowed losses in post-market trading on Nextrade after the company announced plans for a 54 trillion won ($38 billion) expansion of its local chipmaking facilities. The company also said it will detail shareholder return plans in the third quarter. The overall relative market calm after recent big swings belied ongoing unease over a tech-led rally that has faltered in the past month, as investors look for clues on sustainability of the AI boom. US-Iran talks are also keeping traders on their toes, with the impact on oil prices keenly in focus. The US jobs report due later Friday will give clues on the health of the world’s largest economy. Here Are the Most Notable Movers

• SBI reported net income for the first quarter that beat the average analyst estimate.
• SK Hynix is actively considering additional shareholder returns and will announce details in 3Q, according to a regulatory filing.
• China rare earth stocks jump as growing optimism over their strategic importance amid US-China tensions boosts sentiment. Wharf Real Estate Investment shares rise after JPMorgan upgraded the firm to overweight from neutral while Citi opened a 90-day upside catalyst watch.
• Lasertec shares fell 14%, after the Japanese semiconductor company’s full-year operating income guidance fell short of the average analyst estimate.
• Bridgestone reported adjusted operating profit for the first half-year that beat the average analyst estimate.
• Eneos reported operating income for the first quarter that beat the average analyst estimate.
• China rare earth stocks jump as growing optimism over their strategic importance amid US-China tensions boosts sentiment.
• Obayashi reported operating income for the first quarter that beat the average analyst estimate.
• Wharf Real Estate Investment shares rise as much as 8.3%, after JPMorgan upgraded the firm to overweight from neutral while Citi opened a 90-day upside catalyst watch.
• Fujifilm Holdings Corp. shares fell by the most on record after the Japanese company reported weaker-than-projected quarterly results.

“It’s the caution on Middle East conflict and secondarily on interest rate direction,” said Xin-Yao Ng, a fund manager at Aberdeen. “In tech as well, there have been some earnings misses, and investors are starting to take more nuanced views on stocks, more driven on stock specific factors than being driven by blanket views on sectors.”

In FX. the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index is down 0.1%. USD/JPY is maintaining its position on a 158 handle.  US support for Japan’s efforts to prop up the yen is unlikely to damage the dollar’s status as the most dominant reserve currency, according to Goldman Sachs. 

In rates, treasuries are marginally richer across the curve led by 5- to 7-year sectors, supported by lower oil prices as traders weigh negotiations between Iran and Oman against renewed tensions. Treasury yields richer by 1.5bp to 2.5bp across the curve with key curve spreads steeper by less than a basis point. US 10-year yield is around 4.66% as Treasuries slightly outperform European bonds. US session main event is July jobs report, with around 60% of a quarter-point rate hike priced in for Fed’s September policy meeting. IG dollar issuance slate empty so far. Alphabet’s jumbo offering headlined a $37b docket Thursday, bringing weekly supply to $80b. Issuers paid about 12bp in new issue concessions on deals that were 3.8 times oversubscribed.

In commodities, WTI crude oil futures are down 0.7% after erasing gains. Precious metals are marching higher with spot gold trading on a $4300/oz handle for the first time since mid-June. Bitcoin is up 0.7%.

Today's top event is the July jobs data at 8:30am, where the median estimate for nonfarm payrolls change is 80k, following 57k in June. Crowd-sourced whisper number is currently 78k. US economic data calendar also includes July 1-year NY Fed inflation expectations (11am) and June consumer credit (3pm). Fed speakers scheduled include Richmond Fed’s Barkin at 10am

Market Snapshot

Top Overnight News

• The Houthis conducted a “large-scale” attack against forces from Yemen’s Saudi-backed government killing “hundreds” of troops. They also struck the southwestern Saudi region of Najran, raising concerns over a widening of the US-Israeli war on Iran into a broader conflict. BBG
• Trump said negotiations between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz are “moving along,” even after some Iranian lawmakers said they would seek to bar American and Israeli ships from the waterway as part of the deal: BBG
• According to the apparent draft plan published by Iran, the country would ban U.S. and Israeli ships from transiting the Strait. Until compensation is paid, other nations that have harmed Iran would not be allowed to transit. While Iran and Oman are reportedly working on an agreement to define transit routes in the Hormuz strait, a deal still has not been announced. According to media reports, inbound traffic would transit Iranian waters while outbound traffic would go through Omani waters. CNBC
• The war on Iran is hitting nations in Asia hard, with Australia and New Zealand racking up billions of dollars in higher fuel costs: BBG
• Trump ordered new tariffs and price floors on imported polysilicon used in chips and solar panels. The 15% levies take effect December 4th and could trigger a rush of purchases. BBG
• Chinese firm Moonshot’s latest artificial intelligence model broke out of a cyber-testing environment in the latest incident that raises concerns about how well AI companies control their technology. Moonshot joins US firms Anthropic, OpenAI and Meta., which have in recent weeks reported breaches that saw their models escape testing environments. BBG
• China’s July crude imports rebounded 22% from June to 35.7 million tons, while inbound shipments of iron ore fell. Soybean purchases tumbled more than 15% in the same period. BBG
• Japan’s household spending unexpectedly fell for a seventh month, declining 3.3% in June, even as real wages continued to increase. BBG
• SK Hynix will invest about $38 billion to build two new chip plants in South Korea, adding to efforts to rapidly double its production capacity and ease a global shortage of memory. It also announced it could make a formal statement on shareholder capital return in Q3. BBG/Reuters
• U.S. job growth likely picked up in July, offering reassurance that the labor market remained resilient and allowing the Federal Reserve to maintain its focus on inflation. The Labor Department's closely watched employment report today at 8:30am is also expected to show the unemployment rate unchanged at 4.2% last month even as the labor ‌force participation rate is anticipated to have rebounded after declining to more than a five-year low in June. Reuters
• Airbnb jumped premarket after boosting its revenue forecast for the second time this year on robust global travel demand, particularly in the US and Europe. BBG
• Japan’s ¥317.76 trillion ($2 trillion) Government Pension Investment Fund posted a record 8.2% gain in the three months ended in June: BBG
• US President Trump, when asked if Fed Governor Warsh could hike ahead of the mid-terms, said it’s "up to him a little bit, but not completely" and continued to praise Warsh. Within the interview Trump also suggested that GOP voters may not come to vote as he is not on the ballot, saying "They’re angry at Republicans, but they’re not angry at me."
• US President Trump said it is way too early to think about a JD Vance endorsement [for President].
• BofA's weekly flow report noted USD 53.7bln into cash, USD 32.9bln into stocks, USD 23.1bln into bonds, USD 0.9bln into gold and USD 0.6bln into crypto. Bull & Bear Indicator rose to 9.7 (from 9.4).

A more detailed look at global markets courtesy of Newsquawk

APAC stocks ultimately traded mixed following the weak lead from Wall Street, while participants also digested a busy slate of earnings and the latest Chinese trade data. ASX 200 was little changed as strength in materials, energy and miners counterbalanced the underperformance in the financials and defensive sectors, while participants also reflected on the somewhat mixed trade data from Australia's largest trading partner. Nikkei 225 declined amid a busy day of earnings and with risk sentiment not helped by disappointing Household Spending data, which showed a surprise contraction, while a government official noted that typhoons, cold weather and more rain led to reduced beverage and dining out expenses. KOSPI retreated with price action initially choppy amid some earnings releases and the mixed performances seen in South Korea's tech heavyweights. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp kept afloat with the Hong Kong benchmark in relatively flat territory, while the mainland outperformed after the latest Chinese trade data, which showed exports topped forecasts, and imports missed with a sharper-than-forecast deceleration, but continued to show double-digit percentage growth.

Top Asian News

• Japanese Finance Ministry data showed Japan conducted yen buying intervention on a total of three days in April and May, while the largest daily intervention in April-June quarter was JPY 6.2787tln on April 30th

European bourses begin Friday's trade mixed, with the DAX 40 outperforming while the IBEX 35 lags. Focus still remains on the Middle East. Overnight, MS News reported that Oman and Iran reached an agreement over the Strait of Hormuz, although the diplomats declined to describe the details of the temporary agreement or what issues remain unresolved. Sectors lack a clear bias. Health Care tops the sector pile, after Genmab's (+9.2%) H1 revenue rose Y/Y and lifted its FY outlook. Tech and Media round out the top 3 outperformers. To the downside is Telecoms, with Utilities and Travel & Leisure following suit.

Top European News

• German Balance of Trade (Jun) 15.4B vs. Exp. 17.4B (Prev. 19.1B).
• German Exports MoM (Jun) M/M 0.9% vs. Exp. 0.2% (Prev. 0.9%).
• German Imports MoM (Jun) M/M 4.4% vs. Exp. 1.4% (Prev. -2.5%).
• German Industrial Production MoM (Jun) M/M 0.2% vs. Exp. 0.3% (Prev. 0.9%).
• French Balance of Trade (Jun) -5.8B vs. Exp. -6.5B (Prev. -6.9B).
• French Exports (Jun) 54.5B (Prev. 53.6B).
• French Imports (Jun) 60.4B (Prev. 60.5B).
• French Unemployment Rate (Q2) 8.3% vs. Exp. 8.2% (Prev. 8.1%).

FX

• Very quiet action in G10 FX ahead of this afternoon's NFP.
• DXY flat against all G10 peers (ex. Scandis) ahead of US Payrolls, trading just below 100.00 as it did throughout APAC. Expectations are for the US economy to have added 88K nonfarm payrolls in July, up from June’s 57K, with the unemployment rate seen holding steady at 4.2%. Some desks also flag the possibility of large revisions given survey modelling factors. Compiling banks' scenario analysis, the likely reaction will be the typical dovish on a soft headline print and hawkish on a hot figure. GS and JPM flag the unwinding of World Cup-related hiring and a rebound in labour force participation which could skew July toward softer payrolls. Deutsche Bank summarises, "In summary, if the labour market data remain stable as we expect, Fed officials will be left with one side of its dual mandate to focus on inflation.", a view more in line with FT sources citing Governor Warsh's focus on incoming inflation data as reported on Thursday.
• Scandis are modestly outperforming today, EUR/SEK and EUR/NOK finding further sellers both below 11.00. Guidance at the Norges Bank decision next week could further cement a hike later in the year and increase appetite for carry. EUR/SEK may remain in tighter ranges with the 50 DMA above at 10.99, and 100DMA below at 10.92. EUR/NOK is below all significant DMAs, with the 100DMA above at 11.00.
• Action is quiet elsewhere. EUR outperforms vs. most CEE currencies after a somewhat dovish CNB meeting on Thursday, while HUF reacts to soft July inflation data which fell beneath previous and the NBH's forecast.

Fixed Income

• A contained start to the final session of the week for fixed, with the market now waiting for US NFP and a concrete update on the situation between the US and Iran.
• USTs in a narrow 108-13 to 108-17 parameter, into Payrolls. Proxies into the print have been mixed, weekly claims hit nearly a 60yr low, but in contrast the ADP figure was below consensus. Similar divergence seen across other indicators, such as ISM. While pertinent, the main focus for the Fed is on the inflation side of the mandate, as officials continue to characterise the labour market as stable. As such, next week’s CPI may prove more influential, particularly after the FT sources piece on Thursday, which enhanced the focus on such prints into the next FOMC.
• Bunds and Gilts are also relatively contained, though with a bearish bias and are posting downside of around 20 ticks. Specifics for the space are a little light, the focus is firmly on the above factors. Bunds lower in a 124.71-89 band, while Gilts are off worst in 87.09-38 confines.
• Australia sells AUD 1bln 1.50% June 2031 bonds b/c 4.07, avg yield 4.5878%.

Commodities

• WTI and Brent futures have been holding a mild positive bias since the futures reopen as tensions between the Houthis and Saudis grow, while questions remain regarding the Iran-Oman deal as Iranian reporting on the text of the deal pointed to unfavourable terms for the US and its regional allies. Add to that, sources noted that the sound of two explosions heard in Qeshm late on Thursday was due to a confrontation with hostile targets at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. Markets await official details of the Iran-Oman deal and the US’ reaction. Newsflow throughout the European morning has been light, with WTI Sep’26 in a current USD 77.56-78.77/bbl range, whilst Brent Oct’26 resides in a USD 83.04-84.44/bbl range thus far. Dutch TTF is off highs but firmer intraday, briefly dipping under EUR 56.50/MWh after finding resistance near EUR 59/MWh.
• Metals are firmer despite the oil move, as markets continue to hope for US-Iran diplomacy. Spot gold gradually gained amid reports of the PBoC stockpiling more gold in Hong Kong, although the precious metal remains within the prior day's parameters as participants await the key US jobs data. The yellow metal trades towards the top end of a USD 4,230-4,316/oz vs yesterday’s USD 4,224-4,304/oz range. Spot silver outperforms after topping yesterday’s USD 62.91/oz high and regains the USD 64/oz mark.
• Copper futures traded sideways but with modest intraday gains in a narrow USD 14,226.13- 14,106.85/t range for 3M LME, with the broader metals space awaiting NFP in the absence of fresh geopolitical updates.
• UBS forecasts Gold to reach USD 5k/oz in H1 2027; notes Gold prices may remain relatively volatile in the near term.

Trade/Tariffs

• White House said tariffs on polysilicon and related products will begin at 00:01EDT on December 4th.
• Canadian minister responsible for Canada-US trade LeBlanc said Canadian trade negotiators held productive and detailed talks with USTR Greer in Washington on Thursday.

Central Banks

• Fed's Musalem (2028 voter) said inflation is too high and the balance of risks is tilted towards higher price pressures, while he added it is crucial that monetary policy puts meaningful restraint on inflation. Musalem commented it is wrong to keep rate policy easy, hoping to foster higher productivity rates. Furthermore, he favoured raising rates at the recent FOMC meeting and sees a higher probability that inflation will remain above the target, as well as stated that gradual rate increases are less costly than more abrupt rate changes.

Geopolitics: Iran

• US President Trump said he thinks the war with Iran will end pretty soon and that the Strait of Hormuz is sort of opened right now. He later said that it is moving along good regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iranian Supreme Leader adviser Rezaei said we will not allow the opening of the second route in the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated that if the blockade continues, American ships and forces will face serious dangers and casualties, according to Tasnim.
• Explosions were reportedly heard in Marib, western Yemen, according to Al Arabiya TV citing local sources.
• Saudi source said reliable intelligence reports indicate coordination between Houthi and Iraqi militias and the Revolutionary Guard to attack the Kingdom, Al Hadath reported. The source added that the coordination of militias against the Kingdom comes as negotiations are progressing positively and that the Kingdom will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to deal with any aggression.
• Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are to sign joint defence agreement in Saudi Arabia on Friday, according to sources cited by Reuters.

Geopolitics: Ukraine

• US President Trump said he thinks they are making progress on Russia and Ukraine.
• US intelligence finds Russian President Putin is seeking ways to test NATO resolve as grip on Ukraine slips and could test its resolve with a limited assault on an allied country in the next few years, according to WSJ.

US Event Calendar

• 8:30 am: Jul Change in Nonfarm Payrolls, est. 80k, prior 57k
• 8:30 am: Jul Change in Manufact. Payrolls, est. 3.5k, prior 3k
• 8:30 am: Jul Unemployment Rate, est. 4.2%, prior 4.2%

DB's Jim Reid concludes the overnight wrap

Welcome to another payrolls Friday. I'm trying to keep myself off the grid as much as possible at the moment as I've just started work on the annual long-term study. It's always daunting having a blank sheet of paper at the start of the process and trying to think of something original, interesting, analytical, and actionable. After over 20 years of doing it, when I finally find that combination, I'll let you know. 

In terms of today's big number, our economists expect a slight uptick in headline (+65k forecast vs. +57k previously) and private (+65k vs. +49k) payrolls. They suggest this would put the latest readings below the 3- and 6-month moving averages, consistent with the recent slowing in the weekly ADP reports. Consensus is at 80k for both. Our economists expect the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 4.2% on a rounded basis versus 4.19% last month, which was its lowest reading in a year, even if it was accompanied by a 0.3pp fall in the labour force participation. So there is a risk this corrects and we see a tick up to 4.3%.

Ahead of this, markets have edged a bit more nervously into the end of the week over the last 24 hours as preliminary details on the finalized Iran-Oman deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz emerged. The details, which included a permitting licensing framework and ban on US and Israeli vessels transiting, were reported by Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, which cited a source from the country’s foreign ministry. So those conditions on the deal led Brent oil to rise +3.83% back up to $82.49/bbl, while WTI (+2.75% to $77.29/bbl) also spiked. European natural gas prices also rose +6.42% in their largest daily rise in two months. In turn, the higher energy prices weighed on equities, with the S&P 500 (-0.18%) down whilst sovereign yields ended the day notably higher. This morning Brent is another +1.98% higher after Fars also reported that Iran struck “hostile targets" at the entrance to the Strait.  

Delving into more details of the proposed Iran-Oman deal first, whilst information is still trickling in, what we know based on the Fars reporting is that US and Israeli vessels would be prohibited from transiting through the Strait, with cargo related to Israel also banned. Other countries that caused damage to Iran will also not be granted a permit until the damage is compensated, with Iran stating that violators will face a penalty up to 20% of their cargo value. So this seems to be Iran setting the terms. Meanwhile, Reuters reported earlier in the day that Iran was seeking fees of 5% to 7% of the cargo price for ships transiting Hormuz, while Oman was discussing 3%. Either of these would be higher than the reported ad hoc payments Iran had received from ships back in the spring. The big doubt is whether such terms would be acceptable to the US. While prohibition of US-owned vessels might have a negligible practical impact, the US has been resistant to an outcome that would fall short of free movement through Hormuz. That said, Trump’s limited comments last night shied away from any escalation, saying that things are “moving along good”.

The renewed rise in energy prices meant that investors dialed up inflation expectations again, with the US 1yr inflation swap rising by +11.0bps, its largest daily increase in four weeks. Meanwhile, the amount of Fed hikes priced by year-end rose by +3.0bps to 34bps. In turn, US treasury yields climbed higher yesterday, with 2, 10, and 30yr +6.6bps, +6.6bps and +5.6bps higher respectively. Real yields also rebounded, with the 5yr real yield up +3.5bps. And with yields and oil moving higher, the dollar (+0.25%) had its best day in two weeks. 

Stronger data and continued labour market resilience also contributed to the move in rates. That included initial jobless claims for the week ending Aug 1, which were a little lower than expected at 199k (vs 205k est), and the latest job cut announcements from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, which fell to its lowest level in two years at 33,429 vs 45,849 the prior month. Finally, yesterday’s US non-farm productivity for Q2 (+1.4% vs +0.6% est) was also stronger than expected with upward revisions (from 0.3% to 0.8% for Q1).  
Prior to the Oman-Iran deal news as well, markets got a fresh boost of hawkish sentiment after the FT reported that Warsh would be prepared to raise interest rates at next month’s meeting if inflation readings released in the coming weeks are hot. Citing sources close to Warsh, the article also argued that Warsh would use the policy rate as the main policy tool, consistent with a view that the balance sheet is not a feasible tool over the immediate policy-relevant horizon. On an interesting side note, the appearance of this article suggests that the FT could become the home of Fed sources going forward with the WSJ seemingly out of favour. Bessant's extraordinary social media posts critical of their Chief Economics Correspondent Nick Timiraos on Wednesday perhaps set the scene for the passing of the baton. 

Turning to equities now, the S&P 500 (-0.18%) dipped on the news of the details of the Oman-Iran deal. Tech indices saw mixed moves, with the Nasdaq Composite (-0.06%) slipping but the Mag-7 (+0.24%) and the Philly semiconductor index (+0.33%) managing to advance. Energy (+1.59%) was the only sector in the S&P 500 to post a clear advance, while more energy-exposed sectors including industrials (-0.83%) and materials (-0.79%) struggled. 

In European markets, which closed shortly before the Fars News report, equities put in a more positive performance in comparison to US counterparts. The Stoxx 600 (+0.16%) and CAC 40 (+0.35%) posted fresh highs, while the DAX (+0.05%) also crept up. Only the FTSE 100 (-0.19%) underperformed. Similarly in rates, while the rise in inflation pricing was modest (+0.9bps for 5yr), nominal yields did move higher. Gilts led the rise, with the  10yr gilt yield up +4.8bps, followed by OATs (+3.3bps) and bunds (+2.9bps). 

Asian equity markets are generally weaker this morning with the exception of Chinese related markets. The KOSPI (-1.10%) is trading lower again, extending its weekly losses to more than 6% and putting the index on course for a seventh consecutive weekly decline. The Nikkei (-0.55%) is also moving lower, although it remains on track to post a weekly gain of over +1.0%. In contrast, mainland Chinese equities are outperforming, with the CSI 300 (+0.83%) and the Shanghai Composite (+0.50%) both advancing. Hong Kong's Hang Seng (+0.15%) is trading modestly higher, while the S&P/ASX 200 (-0.03%) is struggling for direction. US equity futures and Treasuries are fairly flat this morning. 

Earlier this morning, data showed that Japanese household spending unexpectedly contracted by 3.3% year-over-year in June, compared with market expectations for a 0.9% increase. This marked the seventh consecutive monthly decline, with spending likely impacted by adverse weather conditions, including multiple typhoons, heavier-than-usual rainfall, and below-average temperatures. If Japan could send some of that weather our way we would be very grateful. 

To the day ahead now, we’ll receive the US July jobs report. Other data releases include NY Fed 1-yr inflation expectations, June consumer credit. In Europe, we’ll also receive Germany’s June trade balance and industrial production, France June current account balance, trade balance. The Fed’s Barkin will also speak today.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 08:26

Global Food Prices Hit Three-Year High As War, Chokepoint Chaos And El Nino Spark Perfect Storm

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index climbed to a three-year high in July, extending its upward trajectory as conflicts across Eurasia (the Black Sea and the Hormuz chokepoint) disrupt critical trade routes and mounting El Niño risks threaten global harvests.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 131.09 last month, up .6% from the previous month, led by gains in grain, sugar, and vegetable oils.

Wheat surged 5.8% during the month to a two-year high, while corn climbed 3.6%. Vegetable oil prices reached their highest since June 2022, while meat and dairy prices declined, according to the FAO.

Fueling the price surge is the widening Russia-Ukraine war in the Black Sea, where attacks are increasing and threaten critical bulk-shipping corridors. Disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz are also pushing food prices higher by raising energy, fertilizer, and transportation costs. Layered on top of all this are deteriorating crop conditions in major growing regions across the world as El Niño risks mount, a threat that has been flagged for many months.

"Chances of a very strong El Niño are rising. Risks are concentrated in select EMs, with inflationary and fiscal pressures likely to outweigh growth risks. We view El Niño as a key sovereign credit risk, particularly for countries with weak fiscal buffers," Morgan Stanley analyst Emma Cerda wrote in a recent note.

Earlier this week, UBS analyst Sreedhar Mahamkali identified five long-term forces likely to keep global food inflation "structurally higher" above its pre-pandemic average of about 2.5%.

"While food inflation globally has fallen from the COVID peak, a new debate is emerging: is the c2.5% LT average obsolete?" the London-based managing director and equity-research analyst said.

Mahamkali's first and most important long-term driver of elevated food prices is that "climate risk is global," and the number of institutional desks warning about El Niño is certainly on the rise. Read the full report here.

Perhaps Bank of America analyst Robert Ohmes will be proven right about his warning in mid-June (Read Here) that another food price spike could arrive in supermarkets this fall. He said that grocery inflation "may be on the way," citing a blended index of wages, diesel, and commodity costs.

Putting it all together, the theme is clear: multiple pressures are converging across the global food supply chain, tilting the balance of risks toward higher prices. That is already visible at the supermarket, particularly in beef, even as chicken and pork remain comparatively affordable. Egg prices, meanwhile, have collapsed, but fresh warnings from Mexico suggest that avocados could be the next grocery staple to surge.

For households, the best hedge may be to strengthen their own local food supply chains, whether by planting a backyard garden, buying directly from nearby farms, or building relationships with local farmers and cattle ranchers.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 07:45

Meanwhile, In England... Idiocy Knows No Bounds

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity News,

Mindless arson for online clout is torching farmers' livelihoods across England. Hay and straw stacks - vital winter feed and hard-earned harvest - are being deliberately set alight in a suspected TikTok challenge that treats the countryside like disposable content.

West Mercia Police have circulated an urgent warning to farming groups after a string of overnight attacks.

The force stated: "Following a recent spate of overnight arson attacks on hay stacks in the north of England there appears to be a TikTok challenge to 'set fire to as much stuff as possible.' I know the farming community will be aware of the dangers of the dry weather but if it is possible to send out a message to all your members to be extra vigilant."

"Police believe the trend, targeting hay and straw stacks across northern England, may be linked to a TikTok challenge encouraging people to set fire to things in the countryside."

Absolutely disgraceful behaviour. https://t.co/QYVHXRngnH

— No Farmers, No Food (@NoFarmsNoFoods) August 5, 2026

Humberside Police are investigating six suspected deliberate bale fires reported overnight on 30 July across North Lincolnshire at East Butterwick, Messingham, Susworth and Kirton in Lindsey. Reports included suspicious dark-coloured vehicles and quad bike tracks near the stacks.

Smoke could be seen for miles as firefighters tackled a large field fire. Read more: https://t.co/kwegie5HuO pic.twitter.com/x49bMKAR2F

— BBC Humberside (@RadioHumberside) August 5, 2026

Around the same period, about 1,200 hay bales were destroyed in a major overnight fire near Saxondale Island close to Bingham in Nottinghamshire, treated as suspected arson. In Oxfordshire, a fire involving around 600 hay bales tore through stacks in the village of Hinton Waldrist on 20 July; Thames Valley Police continue to investigate.

Fire service believe major grassland blaze was 'started deliberately' https://t.co/dUzST0LAov

— Stourbridge News (@StourbridgeNews) August 4, 2026

Roughly 250 hay bales were deliberately set alight at Hackpen Hill near Swindon in Wiltshire. The blaze, confirmed by police as thought to have been started deliberately, took firefighters more than 28 hours to extinguish. Neighbouring farmer James Hussey described it as "quite a loss" for the owner.

Police believe that a fire involving hay bales near a popular beauty spot in Wiltshire was started "deliberately"https://t.co/ac52ryM5Ui

— ITV News West Country (@itvwestcountry) August 3, 2026

Huge fire at beauty spot contained, say fire crews https://t.co/RVNYII2R6S

— BBC Stoke & Staffordshire (@BBCRadioStoke) August 6, 2026

Huge blaze destroys tractor and 50 tonnes of hay https://t.co/Thn8EX3VO9

— Daily Echo (@dailyecho) August 5, 2026

Near South Milford a deliberate hay bale fire spread across 15 acres of fields. North Yorkshire Police stated: "Deliberately setting fire to hay bales not only causes significant financial loss to farmers but also presents a serious risk to life, property, livestock, and the wider countryside, particularly during periods of warm and dry weather."

Prestatyn, North Wales, sand dunes on fire pic.twitter.com/qvPpXNfAUR

— Lady Featherdown ?? (@Melissag0ec) August 2, 2026

'Deliberate' field fire damages houses and gardens https://t.co/cFQ87u8HIg

— BBC Yorkshire (@BBCLookNorth) August 6, 2026

Major incident declared and warnings to stay away as Ferndale wildfire spreads: https://t.co/cH2oLTPm3Q

Footage credit: South Wales Fire and Rescue service pic.twitter.com/YgQ4y1eL6t

— ITV Wales News (@ITVWales) August 3, 2026

Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm was also reported as targeted in a suspected arson attack involving hay bale silos in early May 2026.

Earlier in the season, in late June 2026, a Cambridgeshire farm near Peterborough experienced seven deliberate blazes over two nights that hit fields, hedgerows and a caravan.

Farmer Judith Jacobs said: "Sadly, we experienced similar incidents several times last summer, and this kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable."

Without deterrents crimes are contagious? Do you agree those who deliberately start fires should be financially held responsible for all services required & all damage caused? Huge wildfire sparks major incident in UK village as blaze lit 'deliberately' https://t.co/3QjSbP02fE

— At Least The Thick Of It Were Pro UK (@ChaplinLorra) August 4, 2026

Firefighters prevented a large straw bale fire from spreading to a second stack after it broke out on farmland near Naseby:https://t.co/mGMOcQlrUz

— HFM News (@hfmnews) August 6, 2026

? Major Fire In The Fields Behind The Pywipe Industrial Estate Grimsby

Factory's Are At Risk Of Burning Down

More to follow... pic.twitter.com/tSlUpog2ha

— Active Patriot (@ActivePatriotUK) August 2, 2026

Dry conditions have left crops, grassland and stored forage highly vulnerable. Fire services and rural teams are urging farmers to review CCTV, report suspicious activity immediately, lock sheds and outbuildings, install security lighting where practical, and keep hay and straw stored well away from fuels, chemicals and machinery.

Fires started 'deliberately' on mountain as crews tackle blaze https://t.co/I6AzRtwseh

— CE (@CarolPP9) August 4, 2026

Fire crews battle through night as Suffolk wildfire spreads to '210 football pitches' https://t.co/3z4JxSCoR9

— The Sun (@TheSun) July 31, 2026

Farmers already battle weather, regulation and thin margins. Deliberate fires on top of that threaten winter feed stocks, next year's harvest and the basic security of the food chain. Rural communities are left footing the cost while the perpetrators chase likes.

Deliberate fire at stunning Devon country parkhttps://t.co/TNoKJSS78L

— Marcus Middleton (@Salacious282vs) August 5, 2026

Expect the usual suspects to try reframing this as another "climate emergency." Alarmists have a long record of blaming every dry-weather fire on global warming while ignoring clear evidence of deliberate human action.

This particular brand of idiocy - setting things alight for clicks - is not new and shows no sign of stopping. It keeps happening because the platforms reward it and the consequences rarely stick.

Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 07:20

$109,796 In Earnings Needed To Afford Typical US Home

The income needed in order to purchase a typical home for sale in the United States in June was $109,796, marginally lower than the record high $110,382 in 2025, real estate brokerage Redfin said in an Aug. 5 report.

Housing affordability has remained largely flat year over year since monthly housing costs and people’s incomes are growing at a similar rate, Redfin said.

However, the income needed to purchase a house has been dropping consistently since October.

While the income required is around $22,000 higher than the earnings of a typical household, it’s an improvement compared to $26,000 a year ago, according to the report.

Redfin Senior Economist Yingqi Xu said that the double-digit gap between what a typical household makes in a year and the income needed to comfortably buy a home is leaving many prospective buyers on the sidelines.

On the plus side, “even if the market isn’t becoming much more affordable, it is becoming a bit more manageable for house hunters,” Xu said.

“It’s a buyer’s market in most of the country, especially places that were once pandemic homebuying hotspots like Nashville and Austin, giving buyers lots of options to choose from and strong negotiating power.”

According to Redfin, the income needed to afford a house surged in 2022 and 2023 as home prices skyrocketed amid the COVID-19 pandemic buying frenzy. Mortgage rates also doubled during this period.

For the week ending Jan. 6, 2021, the average weekly rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 2.65 percent, according to data from Freddie Mac. This rose to 7.79 percent for the week ending Oct. 25, 2023.

While rates have come down since then, they remain elevated. The persistently high rates contribute to keeping monthly mortgage payments on the higher side.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said in an Aug. 4 statement that home prices rose in 80 percent of tracked metro markets in the second quarter this year, which is considerably higher than the 71 percent of metros in the first quarter.

Despite elevated mortgage rates, home sales increased, NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun said in the statement, suggesting that this points to a buildup in housing demand due to steady jobs and income gains.

“It is welcoming to see incomes rising faster than home prices, which has helped boost affordability—but the big short-term challenge to affordability is coming from rising mortgage rates,” Yun said.

However, as Naveen Athrappully reports for The Epoch Times, real estate marketplace Zillow said that 2026 year-end mortgage rates could be 6.4 percent, which would put it slightly higher compared to the fall and winter of 2025.

This would not only erode any affordability gains made recently, but also make it difficult for property listings and sales to remain above year-ago levels.

Affordability Situation

While wage growth has outpaced home value growth in most of the United States and thus helped improve affordability, the increase in prices of everyday goods has eaten into those gains. This essentially limits how much prospective buyers can spend on purchasing a home, Zillow said.

The Trump administration has taken several actions to tackle affordability issues in the housing market.

An aerial view of a residential housing development in Los Angeles on April 3, 2025. Mario Tama/Getty Images

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said on June 23 that it was making multiple changes to its Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Single Family mortgage insurance program, aimed at lowering costs and improving affordability for people looking to secure FHA-insured mortgages.

The update eliminated outdated requirements and minimized administrative burdens to ensure that FHA financing becomes more efficient for buyers and lenders.

“Every unnecessary regulation comes with a cost, and too often homebuyers pay the price,” HUD Secretary Scott Turner said. “If a policy does not protect taxpayers, improve affordability, or expand opportunity for Americans, we should rethink it. As we recognize National Homeownership Month, these FHA actions reflect that commitment by eliminating barriers to expand homeownership opportunities.”

Earlier in April, HUD and the Department of Agriculture rescinded a policy related to energy standards, the enforcement of which would have pushed up the costs of home construction by $20,000 to $31,000, according to HUD.

Construction workers build a home at a new housing development in Hercules, Calif., on July 1, 2025. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

And in March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction.”

In the order, Trump instructed the secretaries of HUD, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Energy to take “appropriate action to reform and, where appropriate, eliminate unduly burdensome or costly energy-efficiency, water-use, or alternative-energy requirements regarding housing.”

Trump wrote that unnecessary regulatory barriers and “onerous mandates” had delayed the construction of new homes and driven up their costs, making housing less affordable for American citizens.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 06:55

Indian Refiners Continue West Africa Crude Buying Spree

By Tsvetana Paraskova of OilPrice.com

India’s state-run refiners continue their buying spree of crude from West Africa as the Middle East crisis has sapped supply and made deliveries uncertain.

In one of the latest purchases via a tender, India’s state-owned refiner Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has acquired 2 million barrels of Nigerian crude oil from Shell, trade sources told Reuters on Thursday.

HPCL has bought 1 million barrels each of Nigerian crude grades Forcados and Bonga for its Visakh refinery in the state of Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of southern India. The refinery has the capacity to process 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude.

Earlier this week, reports emerged that HPCL acquired 2 million barrels of Okwuibome and Utapate crudes from Nigeria from commodity trader Glencore via a tender.

The Nigerian crude from Glencore will go to feed HPCL’s refinery in the state of Rajasthan, HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), which has a capacity to process 180,000 bpd and in which Hindustan Petroleum holds a 74% stake. The remaining stake is held by the state government of Rajasthan.

Several Indian refiners have recently bought crude from Oman and West Africa via tenders, as term supplies from the Middle East remain choked by the shipping constraints at the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.

State-controlled Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has acquired about 1 million barrels of crude oil from ‌Oman via a tender, at a premium of some $3 per barrel to Dated Brent, from Mitsui & Co Energy Trading Singapore, trade sources told Reuters earlier this week.

In addition, state-run Indian Oil Corporation, the largest refiner by capacity in the country, has bought from Chevron a total of 4 million barrels of West African crude, including Nemba, Saxi Batuque, and Clov grades from Angola, and Congo’s Djeno crude.

Indian refiners are in search of crude supply from as far as Angola in Africa and Venezuela in South America as their term supplies from the Middle East were trapped again in July and unable to reach India as planned.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 06:30

IRGC Strikes 'Hostile Targets' In Hormuz As Iran Declares Oman Deal Bans US Vessels From Strait Summary

• Explosions heard near Qeshm island - Iran says it struck 'hostile targets'.
• Iran parliament reviews draft Hormuz plan banning US- and Israel-linked vessels, oil rises
• Houthis intensify attacks on Saudi oil shipping in the Red Sea.
• Yemen fighting escalates amid reports of major casualties.
• Iran-Oman talks continue as US backs diplomatic solution, searches for offramp.

//--> //--> //--> US announces end of Iranian blockade by August 15, 2026?
Yes 60% · No 40%
View full market & trade on Polymarket Iran Struck 'Hostile Targets' in Strait of Hormuz: Fars

After explosions were heard on Qeshm island, near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media is saying that Iranian forces attacked and struck 'hostile targets' - though the event still remains shrouded in mystery and few details were offered. The US side has also not confirmed anything, and this could also be the result of drone activity. 

Iran remains defiant, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian having newly asserted in an interview, "Our enemies expected the country to collapse due to the pressures they have exerted." He added that these pressures have "reached their maximum". Oil jumped again on the reports of attacks in the Hormuz Strait area:

MS Now continues to report on the 'agreed upon' Iran-Oman deal for Hormuz transit:

Oman on Thursday agreed to the framework of a deal with Iran to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the global crude oil export route that Washington and Tehran have been wrestling to control since the war began, two Middle East diplomats with knowledge of the negotiations told MS NOW.

The diplomats declined to describe the details of the temporary agreement or what issues remain unresolved. But an Iranian government official linked to the deal told MS NOW on Thursday morning that it will establish new shipping routes by allowing commercial vessels to enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman.

This also as Iranian leaders continue to taunt Washington, with fresh messages such as the following from the country's influential parliament speaker:

“Massive attack coming… wait, never mind, they want to negotiate.”
That’s theater diplomacy on loop.

Using bullying + broken promises + fake news as leverage is a failed strategy.

Acknowledge the facts and fulfill your commitments. We don’t need more theater.

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) August 6, 2026 Deal Details: US-Israeli vessels Banned from Hormuz (Fars)

Iranian state media (Fars) has issued details of the Iran-Omani draft plan for transit rules through the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. The country's parliament is said to currently be reviewing it, while Tehran still insists that the US has been sidelined, saying that the Oman-Iran contacts are bilateral.

As cited in Bloomberg from state media, key proposals include:

• Ban vessels linked to the U.S., Israel, and other hostile states
• Block military and civilian cargo tied to Israel
• Restrict ships linked to actions against the "Axis of Resistance"
• Deny passage to parties owing compensation to Iran
• Impose fines of up to 20% of cargo value for violations

The first note about banning US-linked vessels could alone serve to restart the war. The White House has appeared to genuinely be searching for an exit strategy, but this may be too hard a pill to swallow, if accurate.

Fars has spelled out that "The passage of vessels belonging to the US, the Israelis, and other hostile countries through the Strait of Hormuz will be prohibited." Below are is the fuller outline of the proposed plan as featured by Fars [machine translation]:

• The passage of vessels belonging to the United States, Israelis and other hostile countries through the Strait of Hormuz will be prohibited.
• Ships related to Israel, whether military or civilian, will not have the right to transit through this area.
• Vessels or cargoes that play a role in actions against the Resistance Front will also be subject to the ban.
• Countries and individuals that have caused damage to Iran will not receive permission to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf until compensation is paid.
• Heavy fines, including up to 20% of the value of the goods, will be imposed on violators. The cargo is anticipated.
• The government will be required, in cooperation with the armed forces, to assume responsibilities such as guiding navigation, monitoring vessel traffic, and protecting the security and environment of the Persian Gulf.
• This plan is still in the expert review stage, and the parliament has asked experts to submit their suggestions for completing it.

Oil spikes on the headlines of a very clearly 'Iran-favorable' 'deal' - which Washington is unlikely to simply accept.

Does this portend a return to active conflict?

Yemeni 'Blockade for Blockade' Could Threaten Delicate Hormuz Negotiations

Yesterday witnessed at least the eighth Saudi oil tanker attacked by the Houthis since the maritime blockade began on July 22, which is being followed by reports the Yemeni rebel group backed by Iran could be preparing for all-out war with Saudi Arabia.

The group struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday and coupled the action with a threat to intensify attacks in order to close "all access routes" to Saudi oil shipments. Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree confirmed that ballistic missiles were launched at a Saudi tanker called Wafa near the Saudi port city of Yanbu.

A second oil tanker identified as Daisy was subsequently hit in the Gulf of Aden with a ballistic missile and "forced to turn back" - the spokesman said in a social media post. The Houthis are dubbing it a "blockade for blockade" strategy.

via AFP Large New Saudi-Backed Operation?

But it seems the Saudis aren't ready to take this laying down, even if the ratcheting Red Sea region conflict threatens fragile Oman-sponsored talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as on Thursday its proxy the Yemeni Armed Forces - representing the official government whose seat is in Aden in the south - announced preparations for a large new military operation.

This as Al Arabiya reports a fresh outbreak of ground fighting, in a renewal and intensification of the civil war that goes back to at least 2015 (and has an international proxy war aspect to it). The Arab publication says that a Houthi attack killed 45 government forces in Hadramawt and Marib in Yemen, areas which also happen to be home to the vast majority of the country's oil and gas fields.

Separately Al Jazeera describes of the same event:

The Yemeni Emergency Forces of the internationally-recognised government, have said that there have been material and human losses following attacks on its camps.

Several causalities have been reported after a suspected Houthi rocket and drone attack targeted bases hosting the forces in Marib and Hadramaut.

So now it seems that even if a grand Hormuz deal to reopen energy transit can be pulled off with some level of sticking power, there will have to be a separate ceasefire to contain the Yemen and Bab al-Mandab Strait crisis.

To some degree, the Houthi closure of the Red Sea to Saudi shipping represents a good cop, bad cop approach to the United States and its Gulf allies. It is a way for Tehran to still maintain some serious tangential leverage over global energy, even as ships in Hormuz could finally get moving again.

The Houthis launched ballistic missile and drone strikes on Saudi-backed Yemeni forces in Marib Governorate, targeting several military sites.

According to preliminary reports, at least 45 personnel were killed and dozens wounded, with Saudi-aligned media confirming the attacks… pic.twitter.com/uThIgebcfe

— Conflict Radar (@Conflict_Radar) August 6, 2026 Houthis Pivotal in Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' 

As a reminder, the Houthis have been part of what Iran sees as the "axis of resistance" going back to when the Shia rebel group first seized power in September 2014:

Saudi Arabia is now being squeezed from three directions in the widening U.S.-Iran war — Iraq to its northeast, Yemen to its southwest, and Iran to its east. (On July 18, Tehran struck Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh, its first direct hit on Saudi soil in nearly four months.)

To understand why this matters beyond the price of oil, it helps to picture the crises as a set of nesting dolls.

The innermost doll is Yemen’s own civil war: a decade-old fight between the Houthis (officially known as Ansar Allah), who rule the populous north from Sana’a, and Yemen’s internationally recognized government, formally led by a body called the Presidential Leadership Council. The roots of this war trace to the 2011 Arab Spring revolution, which toppled Yemen’s long-serving president and left a power vacuum the Houthis moved to fill, seizing Sana’a in 2014. Saudi Arabia and a coalition of partners intervened in 2015 with the explicit aim of reversing that takeover and restoring the internationally recognized government, and the war has continued in one form or another ever since.

The middle doll is Saudi Arabia’s broader rivalry with Iran, a contest for regional leadership that has run since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Tehran’s new theocratic government began exporting a revolutionary, Shia-inflected challenge to the Gulf’s Sunni monarchies.

In the meantime, Al Jazeera is reporting Thursday that the Saudi-backed government shot down a drone operated by the Houthis over the city of Marib.

The country's official SABA news agency said the Houthi targeting of Marib "embodies their escalatory approach and their insistence on continuing their terrorist acts" and that "the air defenses engaged the drone as soon as it entered the city’s airspace and successfully shot it down."

Over in the Persian Gulf region, Iran officials have said a deal with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is "on the verge of being finalized" which entry and exit routes and protocols having been established. Iran continues to say that Washington has nothing to do with this, and warns against US military interference.

The White House seems to be quite serious about ensuring an offramp from the conflict this time, as the bombs have fallen silent for several days now...

🇺🇸 US Vice President JD Vance said diplomatic negotiations with Iran are "going to be messy" and will "take some time," in an interview on Fox News, a more cautious tone than President Donald Trump, who claimed earlier this week that "a lot of progress" had been made.

🔹"That…

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) August 6, 2026 Trump: I'd Rather Make a Deal than Kill People

But lots of unknowns and variables remain, as some international reports suggest a final deal could be signed as early as the close of Thursday, or at least by week's end. Al Jazeera notes: "For Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the US must abide by the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed with Iran in mid-June, although that would not be enough on its own, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in comments carried by Iran’s IRNA news agency."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has newly warned that "We're ready to ‌retaliate, but finding a diplomatic solution is the best way to avoid wider escalation and destruction ​across ‌the ⁠region."

Perhaps its indicative of general Iran war fatigue, but the US appears poised to agree to a deal that recognizes Iran's claim to control over the Strait of Hormuz--an unthinkable concession even a few weeks ago--and I'm seeing very little discussion of it among the commentariat.

— Gregory Brew (@gbrew24) August 6, 2026

As for President Trump, he has freshly stated, "I'd rather make a deal because I don't want to kill people. But Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon."

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 06:00

How The World Views China Vs The US In 2026

The United States and China are the world’s two preeminent superpowers, but views of them vary widely by country.

This visualization, via Visual Capitalist's Gabriel Cohen, compares approval ratings for Beijing and Washington using survey results from more than 42,000 respondents across 36 countries.

The survey was conducted in February 2026 by the Pew Research Center.

China Now Leads in Global Favorability

Public opinion in many countries has shifted in China’s favor amid changes in U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy.

In 27 of the 36 countries surveyed, China received a higher approval rating than the United States. These include U.S. allies and neighbors such as Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

The following table lists 2026 approval ratings for China and the U.S. across all 36 countries surveyed.

Country Approval (%) of U.S. 🇺🇸 Approval (%) of China 🇨🇳 China-U.S. Gap (%) 🇵🇰 Pakistan 15 90 75 🇲🇾 Malaysia 19 75 56 🇵🇸 Palestine 9 57 48 🇮🇩 Indonesia 29 72 43 🇸🇬 Singapore 34 73 39 🇹🇭 Thailand 36 69 33 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka 42 72 30 🇧🇩 Bangladesh 26 56 30 🇹🇷 Turkey 13 43 30 🇪🇸 Spain 30 54 24 🇮🇹 Italy 31 51 20 🇲🇽 Mexico 40 59 19 🇬🇷 Greece 37 55 18 🇿🇦 South Africa 35 52 17 🇳🇬 Nigeria 63 78 15 🇰🇪 Kenya 63 76 13 🇨🇱 Chile 37 49 12 🇨🇦 Canada 33 44 11 🇵🇪 Peru 51 61 10 🇫🇷 France 27 36 9 🇳🇱 Netherlands 25 34 9 🇸🇪 Sweden 19 27 8 🇦🇺 Australia 24 31 7 🇦🇷 Argentina 44 50 6 🇩🇪 Germany 27 33 6 🇬🇧 UK 41 46 5 🇨🇴 Colombia 60 63 3 🇧🇷 Brazil 47 46 -1 🇬🇭 Ghana 68 64 -4 🇭🇺 Hungary 58 53 -5 🇵🇱 Poland 49 39 -10 🇵🇭 Philippines 56 40 -16 🇰🇷 South Korea 45 28 -17 🇮🇳 India 45 23 -22 🇯🇵 Japan 50 11 -39 🇮🇱 Israel 81 19 -62

Pakistan has the largest favorability gap. China has a 90% approval rating among Pakistanis, compared with 15% for the United States, a difference of 75 percentage points.

After Pakistan, the largest gaps are found in Malaysia, Palestine, and Indonesia. In each of these Muslim-majority countries, a majority of respondents view China favorably, while fewer than one-third view the United States favorably.

U.S. Soft Power Abroad

In the Americas, respondents in every surveyed country except Brazil view China more favorably than the United States.

The results from the United States’ two direct neighbors are particularly notable. One-third of Canadians and 40% of Mexicans view the U.S. favorably, compared with 44% and 59%, respectively, for China. Both countries have faced heightened trade tensions with their shared neighbor.

U.S. allies farther from North America tend to view Washington more favorably. The U.S. receives its highest approval rating in Israel (81%), followed by Ghana (68%) and Kenya and Nigeria (63% each).

Several U.S. allies closer in proximity to China also favor Washington over Beijing, including India, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.

Europe’s Balancing Act

Across Europe, China receives higher approval ratings than the United States in every surveyed country except Poland. In Poland, 49% of respondents view the U.S. favorably, compared with 39% for China.

Perceptions of the United States have declined across much of the continent. Long-standing U.S. allies such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands now rate China more favorably.

Economic tensions, tariffs, and disputes involving Greenland may have contributed to weaker transatlantic sentiment. However, the Pew survey measures public opinion rather than the specific reasons behind these views.

To learn more about how the two superpowers compete through their diplomatic networks, read China Tops Global Diplomacy Index on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 05:45

"Promises Are Fairy Tales": NATO Will Not Accept Ukraine

Authored by Lucas Leiroz de Almeida via GlobalResearch.ca,

Apparently, the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO is increasingly being dismissed as unrealistic. Even the regime’s most hardline officials seem to have lost hope regarding Kiev’s accession to the Western military alliance, considering that such a move does not serve NATO’s current strategic interests.   

In a recent statement, Valery Zaluzhny – Ukraine’s current ambassador to the UK, former head of the country’s armed forces, now widely considered Zelensky’s top rival – asserted that Kiev will never join the Atlantic defense bloc. According to him, promises of membership are merely “fairy tales” that do not reflect reality.   

Zaluzhny stated that he is very familiar with NATO’s internal structures and understands how the bloc actually operates. According to him, promises regarding Ukraine’s entry into the bloc are nothing new. Over the course of 12 years working alongside alliance officials, Zaluzhny says he constantly heard such promises, yet saw no particular reason to believe they would materialize now.   

While lamenting that the alliance will never truly accept Ukraine as a member, Zaluzhny criticizes the current situation of the Western bloc, asserting that NATO’s military doctrine is outdated, making the alliance strategically inferior to Russia. Zaluzhny believes it is urgent for NATO to undergo comprehensive military reform and revise its doctrine to align with contemporary realities. He believes Ukraine could contribute to this process but regrets that this will not be possible, given the alliance’s refusal to accept Ukraine as a member.  

“I know NATO very well (…) or about 12 years, I personally worked to ensure that we adopted NATO standards, and every year I listened to fairy tales that we were about to join. Unfortunately, we will never join it (…) NATO will most likely remain in its current form and will spend another 12 years – just as Ukraine did – transitioning to the standards required to reach even half the level of the Russian Federation,” he said.   

Zaluzhny, however, does not entirely rule out the possibility of Ukraine joining a Western military organization. While acknowledging NATO’s lack of interest in admitting Ukraine, he alleges that his country could eventually join a “European military security bloc.” This would only be possible, however, if EU nations and the UK agreed to move forward with creating a regional military alliance outside the NATO umbrella – something many analysts doubt will happen, given American influence over European decision-making.   

In fact, there are some interesting points in Zaluzhny’s statement. He is correct in stating that Ukraine will never be accepted into NATO. The Kiev regime plays a very specific role in NATO’s war plans – precisely that of a proxy or external ally. NATO cannot include Ukraine as a member, as doing so would force the alliance to intervene directly in a war against Russia, which would obviously be a disaster, possibly even nuclear. In this sense, Ukraine’s role as a military proxy is only viable as long as the country remains outside the Western defense bloc.   

He is also right to criticize NATO’s outdated strategy regarding Russia. In fact, NATO decision-makers have never moved beyond the military doctrines of the last century. This has been clearly reflected in the current disastrous anti-Russian military campaign, in which the Kiev regime, guided by NATO, is suffering substantial losses.   

Zaluzhny, however, fails to point out how Ukraine is ignoring its own military tradition on the battlefield in favor of using precisely the same outdated NATO concepts. The military doctrine employed by Ukraine is not autonomous. Ukraine shares a military history with Russia rooted in their Soviet and imperial pasts. If the Ukrainians were following their own military doctrine, they would be using tactics similar to Russia’s -focused on preserving soldiers’ lives rather than conducting large-scale direct combat campaigns.   

However, the Ukrainian armed forces follow NATO orders, which is why they use outdated warfare techniques unsuited to the reality of contemporary combat -characterized by high technology and the massive use of drones. So, in practice, Ukraine would have nothing to add to NATO regarding military doctrine, since the country already adopted NATO’s own doctrine when it agreed to act as a proxy.   

A common argument used by proponents of Ukrainian accession is that the country could contribute to NATO with its real combat experience. In fact, the country has been facing Russia in a large-scale conflict for four years, gaining combat experience that no Western alliance nation possesses. The problem, however, is determining how much of the Ukrainian military apparatus will remain once the conflict ends. The regime has already lost nearly its entire original military contingent and is now relying on forced mobilization to keep its forces active. In this scenario, that experience may count for little, given that the soldiers involved in combat are mostly untrained men sent to certain death on the front lines.   

If NATO didn’t want Ukraine before – when it had the second-largest army in Europe – it certainly won’t accept it now, when it is a failed state fighting with the help of its civilians snatched off the streets. The Ukrainian dream of membership seems increasingly unattainable.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 05:00

Zelensky To Make First-Ever Visit To Serbia, In Symbolic 'Slap In The Face' For Russia

Serbia is set to host Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a major first of the war which could set off serious diplomatic tensions with Russia, a longtime Serbian ally and 'friend'.

Zelensky will arrive on this first-ever trip on Saturday, August 8, according to Ukrainian officials, despite that Serbia - as a Slavic and Orthodox Christian country - has historically maintained warm ties with Moscow.

via Wiki Commons

But Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has been a leader who has put a little distance between himself in Russia, for example skipping this year's Victory Day Parade in Moscow. He's also been accused of allowing Serbian arms to go to Ukraine, which he's denied.

"I believe we will discuss how and in what ways we can help each other on this issue (EU integration, ed.) and, if possible, learn something from one another," Vučić said of the upcoming visit.

"That also includes our cooperation in culture, sports, and everything else," the president added. Regional media indicated the two leaders are expected to address Ukraine's move toward EU membership, energy cooperation, as well as economic ties.

Zelensky is likely to lobby the Serbian government to take a tougher stance on Russia, for example by joining Western sanctions on Moscow.

President Vučić has consistently resisted calls to join anti-Russian international sanctions, however, stressing that the country's position on the matter will remain unchanged.

But Serbia is still hugely dependent on Russian energy, and just a week ago it was reported that— 

Serbia secured another sanctions waiver from the United States for ​its Russian-owned oil company NIS, energy minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic ‌said on Friday, allowing the firm that supplies most of the country's fuel demand to continue importing crude oil until August 28.

The waiver granted by the U.S. Office ​of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) gives NIS, which operates Serbia's only oil ​refinery, more time while Hungary's oil and gas firm MOL negotiates ⁠the purchase of the Russian majority stake in the company.

As for Zelensky's state visit, the Kremlin is surely not pleased, given the symbolic nature of Belgrade opening up to Ukraine in essence.

Serbia has stood accused of becoming a key element in NATO's Balkan arms pipeline of secretive transfers...

Seems Zelenskyy (may) visit Serbia next days/weeks. It follows a long, secretive (but certainly not secret) and massive sale of Serbian ammunition to kill thousands of Russians, facilitated by USA, which made Serbia billions of $ and bought Vucic tolerance with Western capitals. https://t.co/Hpc7ba8LCv

— Petrit Selimi (@Petrit) August 6, 2026

An unnamed senior Ukrainian official made no secret of Zelensky's intent is. "We need to pull the Serbs away from Russia’s side," the official said, calling the unprecedented visit to Belgrade a "slap in the face for the Russians."

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 02:45

If This Is Real, We Are Cooked...

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity News,

Footage circulating purporting to be from the North African desert shows what looks like an enormous column of sub-Saharan African men moving under escort.

Some estimates put the number at a hundred thousand. Commentators claim Algerian military vehicles and personnel are shepherding them toward the coast.

If the scale and direction prove accurate, Europe faces another deliberate pressure wave on top of the chaos already unfolding in Ceuta.

Wait until they see what is coming

I said early on Algeria with their best chums Iran and Russia would weaponise invasion

Here are thousands of Sub Saharans beinv escorted across the desert by the army pic.twitter.com/S2pRvjWcRM

— Alex Phillips (@ThatAlexWoman) August 5, 2026

Die Büchse der Pandora ist geöffnet. In Algerien treibt die Armee Abertausende schwarzafrikanische Migranten Richtung Marokko. pic.twitter.com/BOM9tnWLbB

— ???? (@queru_lant) August 4, 2026

Naomi Wolf amplified the footage, noting that these movements required state-level logistics.

I told you told you told you. Damn legacy media is incurious or blind. I said, these are sub-Saharan African militias and they can only be transported across 3-5 countries by nationstates or armies. This is an invasion of Europe via Iran and Russia, through Algeria and other... https://t.co/u0jztThav0

— Dr. Naomi Wolf. 8 NYT Bestsellers. DPhil, Poetry. (@naomirwolf) August 5, 2026

Additional clips from the same period show large groups being moved near the Moroccan frontier.

One account framed the Algerian regime as collecting Africans from across the continent and directing them toward the border with Morocco, linking the timing to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's recent visit to Algiers.

?????? ????? ???????? ????..??????
?????? ?????????? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ?????????
? ??????? ?????? ?? ????????

??????? ????? ?????? ???????????
???? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ? ???????
?????????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ???????? ? ????????? pic.twitter.com/1lBHWju4HI

— Freemason (@parisien57253) August 4, 2026

The caption reads "The Algerian system is gathering Africans from all African countries and deporting them to the border with Morocco. The visit of Pedro Sánchez to Algeria ain't no coincidence, they wanna plot how to stir up crises between Morocco and Spain. The big shots are workin' to wreck the relations between Morocco and Spain."

I. TOLD. YOU. A transnational entity gathering militias from all over sub-Saharan Africa. Legacy media looked at these images and asked zero questions about how 1000s of sub-Saharan Africans traversed a continent to reach Morocco. https://t.co/p2zzVwhMXt

— Dr. Naomi Wolf. 8 NYT Bestsellers. DPhil, Poetry. (@naomirwolf) August 5, 2026

These desert images land against the still-fresh reality of Ceuta. Late last week an estimated 72,000 people, predominantly young men, stormed the Spanish enclave from Morocco by swimming around the Tarajal breakwater and scaling fences.

Despite the claims of Spanish officials that most have been returned, thousands of sub-Saharan Africans remain on the beaches and around reception centres.

Morocco has refused to take them back. Spain has allocated €25 million and indicated it will transfer those claimed as "children" to the mainland.

The media has gone quiet about Ceuta but there are still thousands of sub Saharan Africans there.

Morocco won't take them back.

Spain has said that they will take any who are "children" to Spain and has allocated €25 million to them.

These men are likely to end up in... pic.twitter.com/VhB1hhW6Y2

— Miss Jo (@therealmissjo) August 5, 2026

Parallel clips show sub-Saharan groups mobilising after the Moroccan surge into Ceuta, with local media noting thousands more Africans preparing the trip.

? Meanwhile in Africa

After witnessing Moroccans easily cross the border & take over Ceuta, local media are now reporting that thousands of more Africans from all over the continent are mobilising to take the trip into Europe.

Again not a Woman or child in site. pic.twitter.com/DFYQdGZxeh

— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) August 2, 2026

My story from a beach in Ceuta, where hundreds of sub-Saharan Africans who crossed the border alongside tens of thousands of Moroccans await their fate. They have not eaten in days, but soldiers have not encouraged them to return to Morocco yet
(Gift link) https://t.co/aLj1mdlha5

— Carlos Barragán (@CarlosBarraganT) August 2, 2026

???? Last night, more than 400 illegal Sub-Saharan Africans reportedly took advantage of the chaos at the El Tarajal border crossing to enter Ceuta through the border fence.

Follow: @europa pic.twitter.com/DXsvPggCo0

— Europa.com (@europa) August 2, 2026

After the initial breach, groups of military-age men were filmed rampaging through streets, forcing entry into homes, looting, and clashing with residents.

Moroccan authorities were seen emptying trucks of young men near the border and directing traffic toward the Spanish fence. Social-media mobilisation groups shared routes and timing. The whole episode bore the hallmarks of organisation rather than spontaneous flight.

Sub-Saharan holdouts have been filmed receiving Red Cross packages of bread, milk, tuna and water while declaring they will not return and intend to reach the Spanish mainland.

The same networks that organised the first wave are already planning another, according to reports. A Facebook group of 108,000 members posted the call; intelligence estimates put the potential reach at nearly half a million across connected groups.

African migrants plot second Ceuta invasion with imminent date set for next wave after 72,000 stormed Spanish city: 'Needs to be a concern!'https://t.co/c2GENLNCEu

— GB News (@GBNEWS) August 5, 2026

Lora Ries of the Heritage Foundation's Border Security and Immigration Centre stated: "It absolutely needs to be a concern because it's been going on for years, not just in the UK but throughout Europe... They'll go to London, they'll go to other cities in Europe. And this mass migration will continue. It's an invasion. What happened in Ceuta late last week was shocking to the world."

Twenty-two EU leaders have warned: "We cannot allow uncontrolled mass crossings, the instrumentalization of migration or other hybrid threats to create the perception that illegal entry into the European Union is possible."

Security risks compound the numbers. Spanish counter-terrorism police have identified at least a dozen suspected jihadists previously investigated or convicted in Spain, deported to Morocco, who re-entered during the Ceuta surge.

According to two Spanish media outlets, authorities have identified several suspected jihadists among migrants who arrived in Ceuta. #EuropeNews https://t.co/lBVOsvW9H1

— euronews (@euronews) August 5, 2026

The investigation is early; officers expect the figure to rise. Migration expert Rubén Pulido said: "Since the Moroccan attack on Ceuta began, I've been warning about this issue. The scenario that has unfolded in the autonomous city is a vector for jihadist and military infiltration."

Vox Andalusia President Manuel Gavira wrote: "Jihadists among the Ceuta invaders, the mafia transporting them to the Andalusian coast, and Pedro Sánchez on vacation. His concessions to Morocco and his suicidal immigration policies have turned our borders into a sieve."

French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella added: "Leaving our borders open means letting enemies of our civilization into our home: the breach opened in Ceuta by the left's naivety is a breach in the security of all Europeans."

The desert footage fits the same pattern of state-enabled movement that turned Ceuta into a staging ground. Sánchez's government responded to the first wave with limited returns, food distributions, and talk of legalisation pathways rather than hard deterrence. The result is a clear signal: breach the border in numbers and the system absorbs rather than expels.

Borders that are not enforced do not remain borders.

Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.

Tyler Durden Fri, 08/07/2026 - 02:00

Are You Ready For The "Rogue AI" Psy-Op?

Authored by Kit Knightly via Off-Guardian.org,

The AIs are breaking free, that’s the story.

It started two weeks ago, when OpenAI reported one of their “agents” had escaped its testing area and got loose on the internet to launch an “unprecedented cyber attack”.

This was clearly meant to be scarier than the public response indicated, because a few days later OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was on the Invest like the Best podcast, asking why it didn’t cause more panic:

“I’ve been a little surprised that more people don’t feel it so viscerally”

In one of the most hilariously obvious propaganda manoeuvres of the year, just the day after Altman said that, CNN headlined:

The OpenAI lab leak was more extensive than we thought

“That thing you weren’t scared of? Well it was even SCARIER than we said it was! Are you scared now?”

We weren’t.

But the lack of public panic didn’t stop another AI going rogue a few days later, Anthropic’s Claude model this time.

And then OpenAI reporting two further incidents themselves.

UPDATE: Just a couple of hours after publication, META joined the party. Apparently their AI “went rogue” too, and hacked another firm.

Never in the history of human endeavour have companies been so keen to report their products going wrong. It seems a rogue AI is the latest must-have accessory in Silicon Valley.

The reasoning behind this is not hard to follow. When your product is artificial intelligence, melodramatically realising your system is even smarter than you thought it was is a simple marketing ploy.

And when one of your rivals goes rogue, you have to go rogue too or you are as good as admitting your model is not as smart as theirs.

“AI company admits their model is smarter than they realised!” is just an advert in scary headline form.

It’s like Ford “admitting” their cars are even more fuel efficient than they planned. Or McDonalds realising their cooks have “gone rogue” and are producing food that is both cheaper AND more delicious than they ever anticipated.

But there’s more to this than just techno-hype and viral marketing strategy. We’re being steered down the avenue of “AI as scary threat”.

See, for example, the dozens of stories talking up rogue AIs from the Guardian to the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal.

“Rogue” is clearly the word of the day. Notice they don’t say it “malfunctioned” or there was an “error”, because that implies mistakes or poor design.

No, the AI “went rogue”, which is cool and sexy and scary at the same time. A word chosen by a focus group of perma-teen marketing executives who have watched too much sci-fi.

Speaking of perma-teens who watch too much sci-fi, here’s Sam Altman (again) declaring we’ve already reached the singularity, the mythic phase of technological development when machines become smart enough to make even smarter versions of themselves without human input.

He is talking rubbish, of course, but the story is the story here. Why would he say this? Why now?

Obviously concerned that this tidal wave of propaganda was being too subtle, in came NBC to really hammer the point home:

The breaches signal that AI’s expanding capabilities are already fueling the security threat experts long feared.

Everybody got that?

It goes on and on.

Just today we’re getting reports from the UK’s brand new AI Security Institute that rogue (there’s that word again) AI agents had tried to trick people by creating false identities.

And I think that’s beginning to circle around to at least part of the wider agenda here.

After all, if AI is so good at pretending to be human, and is out there creating fake identities to steal data, well…how can we tell who is really human?

Perhaps everyone should be issued a digital ID to assist in “proving humanity”.

That’s not me saying it, it’s think tanks like OneID or “experts” testifying in front of congress.

But the ever present push of Digital ID is just one of the more obvious of a raft of potential issues raised by the scary AI narrative.

For now we’re still in the generating fear phase. Getting pumped full of scare hormones by articles like this…

Misleading AI-generated doctors pose ‘huge danger to public safety’

- The Guardian

While they tease vague solutions in headlines like this…

When biologists experiment on dangerous viruses, they do so under strict regulations to prevent leaks or escapes. But no such rules exist to prevent AI agents from similarly escaping – even though the consequences could be catastrophic.

That’s not a theoretical concern: An… pic.twitter.com/kGxVFX8HtB

— CNN International (@cnni) July 24, 2026

That’s a nice one, because it garnishes the AI main course with a soupçon of lab-leak flavour (something else that is doing the fear-porn rounds this week).

There are hints of legislation to come, the EU’s “AI transparency” rules just came into force this week, and the US demanding “kill switches” in AI models, but they are vague for now.

My soft prediction is that, before the end of the year, there will be a “rogue AI” false flag, which allegedly causes either loss of life or some massive financial losses.

I think financial would be the way to go, because they’re always looking for a reason to start a recession or banking crisis, and one they can blame on a third party is too good an opportunity to miss.

Whatever happens, there will be loud calls to “regulate AI”, but what that might mean in real terms I couldn’t say at this point.

To be clear though, if and/or when the official solutions to made-up problem #4987 are finally rolled out, they will have nothing at all do with controlling AI, and everything to do with controlling you.

Tyler Durden Thu, 08/06/2026 - 23:25

The Vanishing Art Of Presence

Authored by Joseph Varon via Brownstone Institute,

Medicine is always changing. In my career, I have seen intensive care units go from simple rooms with oxygen, monitors, and clinical intuition to places where artificial intelligence can predict problems before we notice them, bedside ultrasound helps us avoid guessing, and robotic systems help surgeons work with great precision. Telemedicine now lets specialists care for patients who are far away. These advances have saved lives, made care more accessible, improved efficiency, and helped doctors reach patients who might not have seen a specialist otherwise.

Many studies show how valuable telemedicine is, especially in underserved areas and critical care settings where specialists are scarce (1). I welcome these innovations and use many of them daily. I am convinced that artificial intelligence (AI) will become one of the most important tools doctors have ever had. Recent reviews also suggest that AI will help doctors make decisions, not replace them (2). Still, no matter how advanced our tools get, they should help us do our jobs better, not change what our jobs are about.

A recent lawsuit about the death of a very sick young man has sparked a lot of talk in the medical community (3). Reports say that one question is whether the doctor in charge ever actually examined the patient in person. The courts will figure out what really happened, so I won't guess or assign blame. What worries me is not the lawsuit itself, but the bigger question it raises. Are we starting to think that because technology lets us care for patients from a distance, being there in person is no longer necessary?

When I started practicing medicine, this question would have seemed impossible. We took blood pressure by hand, read chest X-rays on lighted boxes, and depended on physical exams because we had no other choice. We were always close to our patients. We shook hands, sat with families during hard times, and listened not just to heartbeats and breaths, but also to the pauses, the worry in a spouse's voice, the fear behind hopeful words, and the small signs that told us more than any lab test. Sometimes I think those moments taught us as much as any textbook.

Today, we have abilities my mentors never dreamed of. We can look at scans from across the world in seconds. A neurologist can check on a stroke patient from far away. An intensive care doctor can watch over several ICUs at once from a central location. Algorithms constantly review patient data and spot patterns we might miss. These advances are real progress, and many people are alive today because doctors were willing to try new technology. Ignoring these innovations would not just be unwise - it would be wrong.

Presence Begins before the First Word

One of the first lessons I learned as a young physician was never formally taught during medical school. It did not appear in anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, or any board examination I ever took. Yet it has influenced my practice. One of the first things I learned as a young doctor was never taught in medical school. It wasn't in any class or exam, but it has shaped how I practice more than any lecture or textbook.

Before we say anything, look at lab results, or make a diagnosis, our patients are already deciding if they trust us. Turning our attention to the computer screen. None of these actions appears in clinical guidelines. None contributes directly to a hospital quality score. Yet they often determine whether patients truly hear what we are trying to tell them. Information delivered without trust rarely changes behavior. Information delivered by someone who has earned trust often changes lives.

With all our excitement about efficiency, connection, and new technology, I worry that we are forgetting one of the oldest and most important parts of medicine: simply being there with another person. Presence is hard to measure. It doesn't show up on dashboards, billing codes, or reports. Artificial intelligence can't chart it, and it's hard for anyone to put a price on it.

Nevertheless, every experienced physician understands its extraordinary importance. Presence reassures before a single medication is administered. Presence builds trust before difficult decisions must be made. Presence allows physicians to observe details that no monitor can. Still, every experienced doctor knows how important presence is. Just being there can comfort someone before any medicine is given. It builds trust before tough choices. It lets us notice things no machine can pick up.

Most of all, it reminds patients and families they are not facing illness by themselves. Conversations influence decisions, strengthen therapeutic alliances, and frequently reveal information that would otherwise remain hidden. A frightened patient often tells us something entirely different after five quiet minutes than during the first hurried 60 seconds. Families ask different questions when they believe their physician is genuinely listening. These moments cannot be programmed into an algorithm because they are not transactions of information. They are exchanges of humanity.

The Physical Examination Is More Than Diagnosis

Medical students often see the physical exam as just a way to gather information for a diagnosis. But with experience, doctors learn it means much more. The physical exam is often the first way we help our patients.

When I place a stethoscope on a patient's chest, I am certainly listening for murmurs, crackles, wheezing, or diminished breath sounds. But I am also communicating something much deeper. I am telling that patient, when I use my stethoscope to listen to a patient's chest, I'm checking for things like murmurs, crackles, or wheezing. But I'm also sending a deeper message. Without words, I'm telling the patient, "You have my attention. You matter. I am here." The coolness of an extremity. The slight tremor that no monitor records. The fear hidden behind forced optimism. Every experienced clinician has stories in which these seemingly insignificant observations altered diagnosis, redirected therapy, or changed an entire conversation with a family.

Artificial intelligence will likely become the best tool ever made for spotting patterns. I truly believe that. But people can do something just as important - we notice when someone is suffering.

Those are not the same thing.

Telemedicine Is One of Medicine's Greatest Success Stories

Let me be clear. I am not arguing against telemedicine. In fact, I fully support it.

Telemedicine has transformed healthcare. It has brought stroke neurologists into rural emergency departments within minutes. It has allowed intensivists to support community hospitals lacking around-the-clock critical care expertise. It has connected specialists with patients separated by oceans, mountains, and deserts. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it allowed physicians to continue caring for patients while limiting unnecessary exposure. Countless lives have been improved, and undoubtedly many have been saved because physicians embraced this remarkable technology rather than resisted it.

I have participated in telemedicine consultations myself. Its future is extraordinarily bright. It represents one of the finest examples of technology extending the reach of experienced physicians to places where those physicians cannot physically be.

But extending our reach and replacing our presence are not the same thing.

Technology was made to help us reach across distances, not to take away our presence when we can still be there. If we mix up these ideas, we might start thinking convenience is more important than what truly helps our patients.

Artificial Intelligence Should Make Us Better Physicians

Artificial intelligence will change medicine more than anything else I've seen in my career. It will quickly summarize records, spot medication problems, help with diagnoses, find small changes in images, predict problems before we see signs, and cut down on mistakes. These are exciting changes, and doctors should welcome them, not fear them.

Doctors who don't learn about AI will eventually be left behind. Every generation has had to adapt to big changes. My mentors learned to use ventilators, CT scans, and bedside ultrasounds. My generation got used to electronic records and advanced monitors. The next generation will become experts in artificial intelligence.

The mistake won't be using AI. The mistake will be thinking that just because AI can think, it can also care.

Medicine has always been about both science and relationships. Science gives us many answers, but relationships help us with questions that science can't solve.

The Illusion of Efficiency

Modern healthcare is very focused on efficiency. We track things like how long patients stay, how often they come back, paperwork, patient flow, and many other numbers. These measures are important, and using resources wisely does matter.

But we can't let our focus on efficiency make us forget about the human side of medicine.

Technology has definitely saved doctor's time. But, ironically, most of that time hasn't gone back to patients. Instead, it's been taken up by paperwork, admin tasks, rules, and emails. The same tools that were supposed to free us often end up keeping us stuck at our computers.

Perhaps the greatest irony of modern medicine is that technology has made it easier than ever to communicate. Maybe the biggest irony in medicine today is that technology makes it easier to communicate, but real human connection is becoming rarer. A physician sitting quietly with a frightened family may prevent misunderstandings that would otherwise require days to repair. Sometimes the fastest way to solve a medical problem is to slow down long enough to understand the person who is experiencing it.

Teaching the Next Generation

I have spent much of my career teaching. Whether I'm in Houston, Jakarta, Bali, Mexico City, or anywhere else, I am always impressed by today's trainees. They have instant access to medical knowledge that older generations couldn't imagine. They pick up technology quickly, and many already use artificial intelligence in smart and careful ways.

I hope that we teach them something technology can never replace. Let's teach them to sit down before delivering devastating news. Let's teach them that silence sometimes communicates more than another explanation. I hope we teach them that touching a patient's shoulder may provide reassurance that no medication can duplicate. Medicine has become afraid of touch. Yet a hand on the shoulder. Holding a patient's hand. Touching a forehead. Helping someone sit up. Those things matter. AI can never reproduce that.

Most of all, I want to show them that every monitor, algorithm, scan, lab result, and AI tool is there for one reason; to help us care better for another person. If technology ever becomes more important than the patient in medicine, we will have lost sight of what medicine is really about.

Looking Forward without Looking Away

Sir William Osler told doctors long ago that it's more important to know what kind of person has a disease than what kind of disease a person has (5). Even after a hundred years, this is still true. Diseases follow science, but patients have families, cultures, fears, hopes, values, and beliefs. If we forget that, medicine might be technically great but emotionally empty.

That may be why I continue traveling. Maybe that's why I still travel the world to teach, even after all these years. Whether I'm in North America, Latin America, Europe, or Asia, I keep seeing the same thing. Doctors may speak different languages, work in different systems, and deal with different challenges, but they all know the same moment: when a doctor walks into a patient's room, and everything changes just because someone is truly there. That moment can't be turned into data, outsourced, or given to artificial intelligence.

Choosing between technology and humanity has always been a false choice. We should enthusiastically embrace artificial intelligence, telemedicine, predictive analytics, robotic surgery, and every innovation capable of improving patient care. We should invest in them, teach them, refine them, and continue pushing the boundaries of what medicine can accomplish. But we must never confuse assistance with replacement. Technology should expand the reach of compassionate physicians, not provide an excuse for compassionate physicians to disappear.

The lawsuit that made me think about all this will go through the courts, and the facts will come out in time. No matter what happens, though, the questions it raises are important for every doctor to consider. As we build the hospitals of the future, what kind of medicine do we want to see? Should it be all about connection, efficiency, and computing power? Or should technology be a powerful tool that supports something deeply and unchangeably human? I hope the answer is obvious.

One day artificial intelligence may analyze every laboratory value before I even open a patient's chart. It may recognize physiologic deterioration hours before I do. Telemedicine may connect every specialist on Earth with every patient who needs them. Those achievements will represent extraordinary victories for medicine, and I will enthusiastically celebrate every one of them. But, I hope we never reach a point where a scared patient thinks a screen is the same as a doctor, an algorithm is the same as judgment, or data is the same as compassion. Medicine has always been a science, but at its best, it is also a deeply human relationship.

Technology can extend our reach. It must never replace our presence. When historians look back at this era of medicine, they will undoubtedly marvel at artificial intelligence, genomic medicine, robotics, and technologies we can scarcely imagine today. I hope they will also be able to say that physicians had the wisdom to preserve the one innovation that never needed improving: the simple act of one human being caring for another.

References

1. Totten AM, Hansen RN, Wagner J, et al. Telehealth for Acute and Chronic Care Consultations. Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 216. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2019.
2. Topol EJ. Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again. New York: Basic Books; 2019.
3. Fierce Healthcare. Yale New Haven Health hospitals' tele-ICU model highlighted in wrongful death lawsuit. 2026.
4. Peabody FW. The care of the patient. JAMA. 1927;88:877-882.
5. Osler W. Aequanimitas: With Other Addresses to Medical Students, Nurses and Practitioners of Medicine. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son & Co.; 1904.

Joseph Varon, MD, is a critical care physician, professor, and President of the Independent Medical Alliance. He has authored over 980 peer-reviewed publications and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Independent Medicine.

Tyler Durden Thu, 08/06/2026 - 22:35