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The Trump Justice Department dismissed the newly appointed US attorney for western Washington state less than an hour after he was sworn in.

The healthiest people in their 80s and 90s have one surprising lifelong habit in common. Here's why embracing the cringe may help keep your body and brain sharp.

President Trump announced Wednesday that Iran has released a wrongfully detained US citizen as a "gesture of Goodwill."

Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko Square in Greenpoint, a tucked-away green space located just steps from bustling McCarren Park, has become a local eyesore in the Polish enclave.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told The Post that Republicans may finally have a viable strategy to pass the SAVE America Act and speculated on the breakthrough Sen. Lindsey Graham told President Trump about before his death.

G7 Partners Have Low Confidence In President Trump

Confidence in U.S. leadership has fluctuated significantly over the past two decades, closely tracking changes in the occupant of the White House.

As Statista's Felix Richter shows in the following chart, based on data from past and present editions of Pew’s Global Attitudes Survey shows, confidence in President Donald Trump among key U.S. allies has mostly been low, although it has edged up slightly compared to the end of his first term.

You will find more infographics at Statista

Interestingly, Trump’s current ratings are broadly in line with those recorded for George W. Bush toward the end of his presidency.

Bush’s low standing in many Western European countries at the time was largely shaped by opposition to the Iraq War and broader concerns about U.S. foreign policy.

By contrast, confidence in U.S. leadership rebounded sharply under Barack Obama, who consistently received high approval ratings across G7 countries.

While views of Joe Biden were also relatively positive, they never reached Obama era highs and deteriorated gradually over time.

Overall, the data highlights how strongly international perceptions of the United States tend to shift with changes in leadership and foreign policy direction.

Tyler Durden Thu, 07/16/2026 - 05:45

Trump: Iran Has Freed Detained American Woman In 'Goodwill' Gesture, After Days Of Bombing Summary

• Detained American woman freed by Iran; Trump: "appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!"
• Pentagon announces second wave of strikes later Wednesday, the after initial 90-minute attack to start the day.
• Trump threatens wider strikes unless Iran returns to talks - says attacks to 'expand' next week.
• Wednesday saw 5th strait day of US bombardment on chiefly Iranian coastal sites.
• Iran hits US-Gulf bases and warns on regional oil exports, says it is in 'control' of Hormuz Strait.
• No evidence de-escalation: Tehran rejects talks and vows more retaliation.

//--> Will the U.S. invade Iran before 2027?
Yes 17% · No 83%
View full market & trade on Polymarket

*  *  *

American Freed by Iranians, Trump Announces

In a sudden and very surprising Wednesday evening development, President Trump announced that Iran has released an American woman from prison who had been deemed wrongfully detained since December 2024.

"Iran has allowed an American Citizen, who was wrongfully detained in December of 2024 under the ‘presidency’ of Sleepy Joe Biden, to leave the Country. She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition," Trump said on Truth Social. And then most surprisingly: "The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!" Trump added.

She's been identified in a breaking report from The Hill:

The American citizen was later identified as Dena Karari by her lawyer Jared Genser on the social media platform X. He said his client has been trapped in Iran since December 2024 “on bogus charges” and that “this would not have happened but for the extraordinary and relentless efforts” of President Trump.

“Dena is now safe and traveling back to the United States,” Genser concluded.

 According to some scant details on Karari's case:

The New York Times reported last year that an Iranian American woman who was first imprisoned and prevented from leaving the country in December 2024, but released from custody, “works for an American technological company and runs a charity for underprivileged children in Iran”.

After the US joined Israel in bombing Iran in 2025, she was charged with espionage.

Trump has further confirmed, "She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition."

There's a possibility the White House could use this as an 'opening' with Tehran, in order to get diplomacy back on track, after days of bombing - especially Trump just appeared to give a rare positive shoutout to the Iranians.

Could this signal a move toward de-escalation?

President Trump announced that Iran has allowed an American citizen, who had been wrongfully detained since December 2024, to leave the country.

At the same time, there are reportedly Iranian strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait pic.twitter.com/HFS5aGPhIo

— Wladimir van Wilgenburg (@vvanwilgenburg) July 15, 2026 Pentagon Announces Another Wave of Strikes Later Wednesday

It is night time in Iran, and apparently the US 'break' is over, and bombing resumes: (CENTCOM) "At 3 p.m. ET, U.S. forces launched operations for a second wave of strikes today against Iran. The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway vital to global commerce. The U.S. military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief's direction."

Without doubt these attack waves are getting heavier, but so is Iran's 'retaliation'... from earlier: Kuwait Hit By Worst Iran Attacks in Weeks As War Escalates (Bloomberg).

Meanwhile an interestingly ambiguous admission from President Trump Wednesday afternoon:

US President Trump says oil price will yo-yo for a while; thinks inflation at year-end will be lower than now. Would like to see rates go down but better to pause than hike

Later into the night, the US military disabled an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf:

U.S. forces enforced naval blockade measures against Iran, July 15, by disabling an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces observed Curacao-flagged M/T Belma transiting international waters toward Kharg Island. The commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the U.S. blockade. A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel after firing hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.

Trump: Strikes Will 'Expand'

Earlier in the day, within hours after the morning's 90-minutes salvo of latest US strikes on Iran was completed, President Trump once again claimed that Iran is desperately seeking diplomatic talks. However Iran was quick to respond that it has "no plans" for returning to the negotiating table.

With this, President Trump is ready to escalate militarily, telling FOX that strikes on the Islamic Republic will "expand" next week - though some are wondering why he is signaling the delay.

President Trump tells Fox News that strikes against Iran will expand next week as the Middle East braces for what comes next. pic.twitter.com/zOwaGc44KF

— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) July 15, 2026

De-escalation seems nowhere on the horizon, also as the more 'hardline' influence within Iran seems ascendant, per Al Jazeera:

The Iranian government is releasing the statistic of the seven soldiers killed in US attacks “very deliberately” to solidify its popular support through the war, says Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University Qatar.

“What we have seen in Iran … is a resurgence of Iranian nationalism, and by highlighting the fact that Iranian soldiers are dying and giving their lives for defending the country, what the government is trying to do is to ensure that that popular support remains intact,” Kamrava told Al Jazeera.

That support is important as there is little doubt the country is struggling with high inflation, unemployment, and $270bn in damages to the economy, he said. Meanwhile, the Iranians are aware that they cannot go “toe-to-toe militarily with the Americans, so they are turning the conflict from a military one into an economic one, hence the attacks on shipping,” Kamrava said.

Attack Waves Halted, For Now...

The Pentagon opened Wednesday morning (US time) by announcing yet another round of strikes on Iran, in what looks like sustained action - also increasingly expanding to include civil and energy infrastructure of the Islamic Republic.

"At 6 a.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran," Centcom announced. "The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz."

The US military further indicated it launched a "seven-hour wave" of strikes overnight - and followed during the next day (Wednesday) by a 90-minute wave. Also the evening prior, the US reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and alongside launching its fourth consecutive night of strikes on the country, also as President Trump freshly warned that if Iran does not return to the negotiating table, "next week it gets really bad for them, because next week comes the power plants."

BREAKING: Iran declares it has “no plans” for talks. https://t.co/GNDtzt8Rx5

— Polymarket (@Polymarket) July 15, 2026

"You better make a deal, or you're not going to have anything left," Trump has warned. "Ultimately, we'll hit energy targets in Iran. Next week comes the bridges. We're going to knock out all of their power plants. We'll knock out all of their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate."

US Strike Hits Iranian Military Barracks 

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani announced that at least 30 civilians have been killed across the country over 260 people wounded by American strikes of the last few days.

Airstrikes also reportedly took out an Iranian military barracks in southeastern Iran, leaving seven dead. The Associated Press details that "One strike targeted a barracks for Iran’s 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, which operates tanks and armored vehicles, in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iranian state television reported."

"The report said the Americans fired at least 13 missiles in the attack and that the seven dead included conscripts and career soldiers," AP continues. "A number of troops were wounded."

Heavy bombardments have focused on the coastal areas, with US strikes reportedly having hit a civilian maritime control tower in Chabahar, southern Iran - location of country's only deep-water port outside the Strait of Hormuz, which allows Iran direct access to the Indian Ocean without passing through the Gulf.

US strikes hit a civilian maritime control tower in Chabahar, southern Iran.

Chabahar is strategically critical for Iran.

It's the country's only deep-water port outside the Strait of Hormuz, giving Iran direct access to the Indian Ocean without passing through the Gulf.… pic.twitter.com/NYNoy0azAI

— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 15, 2026 IRGC Strikes Several US-Gulf Facilities

As expected, Iran's IRGC has continued launching a wave of retaliatory strikes targeting critical US military infrastructure across the Gulf and even reaching into Jordan.

The list of targets hit, according to an array of regional sources, include - Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air Base, the US Navy's 5th Fleet support facility, Kuwait’s Ali Al-Salem and Camp Buehring, and Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.

Also, Emirati sources have reported strikes on the critical Fujairah Port, while Kuwait confirms one of its navy vessels was struck, leaving four crew members injured. Additionally, social media is awash with unverified footage showing Shahed kamikaze drones striking Kuwait, as well as massive plumes of black smoke rising from burning facilities in Kuwait. US 5th Fleet HQ locations in Bahrain also show signs of damage from inbound projectiles.

The IRGC has insisted that the "export of oil and gas from the region will be either for everyone or for no one."

The Iranians have continued to tout their nationalist defiance and have at no point shown signs of backing down as is hoped by Trump:

Addressing the Civilized and Courageous Nation of Iran with derogatory language does not diminish its Greatness.

Iranians are known for their civility, culture, and strong moral values. We do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valor.

— Syed Abbas Araghchi (@SyedAbbasA3t) July 15, 2026 New Warning of Kharg Island Operation

President Trump continues facing pressure over what's next or what the ultimate objectives are. Related to this, he was pressed by Fox News Wednesday night about taking Kharg Island. Trump responded:

"We already hit Kharg Island, as you know, twice. Even three times. I said hit everything but just leave that little area from 25 yards out because I don't want that in terms of the world economy. As far as taking it is concerned, if we degrade them far enough and deep enough back, I would do that."

But Iranian forces show no signs of backing down. Instead a message from its army command via state TV says that "a decisive response to this aggressive action by the American enemy" will keep coming.

Footage, reportedly taken during Iranian drone and missile strikes against Kuwait earlier, shows a Shahed-136 impact. The U.S. continues to trade strikes with Iran, as targets inside Bahrain and Kuwait are now bearing the brunt of Iranian fires. pic.twitter.com/AC07mtqi96

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 15, 2026

Missile alert warnings have continued to sound in Bahrain and Kuwait early Wednesday amid the Iranian fire, which has at this point grown to a daily occurrence.

Meanwhile, strikes on nuclear plans return?

Video US air strike which destroyed an Iranian 35 mm Samavat anti-aircraft gun (Swiss Oerlikon GDF-001 copy) stationed to protect Bushehr nuclear powerplant.
Geo-located by @GEOIMINT at 28.83027, 50.87936. pic.twitter.com/RXrnCO9TJA

— Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) July 14, 2026 Overnight Developments

via Newsquawk...

• US President Trump said in a pre-recorded Fox News interview that they are beating up Iran badly and Hormuz has to stay open, while he added that strikes will continue until he says it is enough, as well as stated they will save energy targets for last and will ultimately hit energy targets. Trump also said they will hit Iran hard on Wednesday night, and that next week will get really bad for Iran, in which they will hit Iran's power plants and bridges next week unless Iran comes to the negotiating table. Furthermore, he said US officials spoke to Iran on Tuesday and told Iran that it better make a deal.
• US Central Command forces began launching an additional round of strikes against Iran at 15:00EDT/20:00BST on Tuesday, to continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while CENTCOM later announced the completion of strikes against Iran.
• US struck Qeshm Island in southern Iran, and explosions were heard in the maritime area of eastern Hormozgan and Sirik, while explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas and Hengam Island. Explosions were also heard in Bampur and Chabahar in Iran, although Iran's semi-official news agency Tasnim noted officials denied reports of explosions in Chabahar, while explosions were reported in Iran's port city of Bandar Imam Khomeini, and a mineral water plant in Deloran was hit by three projectiles. Furthermore, reports noted that air defences around the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran became active.
• IRGC said it targeted enemy weapons and parts storage in Bahrain and Kuwait, while it targeted a drone ramp in Kuwait's Ali Al Salem air base and targeted US positions at Jordan's Azraq base, as well as the US Fifth Fleet Command HQ, fuel facilities and equipment in Bahrain. IRGC said as long as the US evil stays in the region, not a drop of oil and gas will be exported from the region, and that US aggression will have no result other than delaying the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran will respond to the US attacks, Tasnim reported.
• Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi said the US is making a mistake if it thinks its military attacks and blockade will force them to request negotiations, but also commented that Iran's return to negotiations and tolerance regarding the Strait of Hormuz is possible. Furthermore, he said the MoU effectively no longer exists and that no country should expect Iran to continue implementing the terms of the memorandum.
• Israeli PM Netanyahu is reportedly to travel to Washington on Saturday evening, aiming to meet with US President Trump, Yedioth reported.

Tyler Durden Thu, 07/16/2026 - 05:45

Biden described his upcoming book in a post to X Wednesday morning.

Japan's Landmark Vote Reclassifies Bitcoin And Crypto As Financial Assets

Authored by Micah Zimmerman via The Epoch Times,

Japan’s parliament passed an amendment on Wednesday that reclassifies cryptocurrency as a “financial asset,” a shift that pulls bitcoin and other digital assets out of the country’s payments regime and into the framework that governs stocks, bonds, and investment trusts, according to a report from public broadcaster NHK.

The change strips crypto of its prior status under the Payment Services Act, where regulators treated it as a means of settlement, and folds it into the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), the same statute that oversees traditional securities. 

The amendment moves bitcoin and other crypto under a single investor-protection standard. NHK reports the change takes effect within a year, with a target of fiscal 2027.

Japan’s new authority over bitcoin and the crypto asset class

Japan’s cabinet first approved this measure as a draft amendment in April 2026, but that step only sent the bill toward the Diet for debate. Wednesday’s vote marks the final enactment into law, alongside formal approval of a separate plan to cut the top tax rate on crypto gains from 55% to a flat 20% starting in 2028.

The move rewires how Japan supervises the asset class. As financial instruments, crypto assets now fall under insider-trading rules that bar issuers, exchange operators, and other parties with access to non-public information from trading ahead of events such as token listings, delistings, or major technical incidents.

Exchanges face new disclosure obligations. Platforms must publish data on each token’s issuer, blockchain design, and volatility profile, a standard that mirrors the reporting demands placed on securities firms. Regulators also gain broader market-surveillance authority over the sector, according to local reports. 

Penalties climb under the new law. The maximum prison term for unregistered crypto operators rises from three years to 10, while the top fine increases from 3 million yen to 10 million yen, near $62,000. The tougher enforcement signals a move to treat crypto misconduct with the same severity as securities fraud.

A path to bitcoin ETFs and a tax cut

The reclassification carries two consequences that reach beyond compliance.

First, it opens a path for spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds. Because FIEA governs the products that funds can hold, moving crypto under its umbrella removes a structural barrier that kept Japanese asset managers from launching regulated bitcoin ETFs.

Second, it clears the way for a tax overhaul. Japan taxes crypto gains as miscellaneous income at rates that reach 55 percent, among the steepest treatment in any major market. Lawmakers approved a plan to cut the top rate to a flat 20 percent, a level that matches the tax on stock gains. The reduction, tied to the 2026 Tax Reform Outline, activates in 2028.

The reforms arrive as Japan accelerates a broader Web3 push and as regulators weigh reserve requirements for exchanges that resemble the buffers held by securities firms. User accounts on Japanese exchanges have grown, and domestic crypto firms are positioning for a wider base of retail investors.

For an industry that has long viewed Japan as an early and cautious mover, the vote marks a decisive turn toward legitimacy. 

The country that once served as a template for crypto regulation is now aligning digital assets with its capital markets, a decision that could pressure other jurisdictions to follow.

Tyler Durden Thu, 07/16/2026 - 05:00

The homeless encampment spreading along Manhattan’s West Side is a warning: Under Zohran Mamdani, this city has no interest in protecting you, your business or your property.

Iran said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz was an inviolable "red line", warning that if ​US President Donald Trump carried out his threat to attack Iran's infrastructure, it would strike all infrastructure across the Gulf region.

The former employee alleged that he lost his job after referring to a nonbinary coworker "by her actual legal government name."

She inherited the home after her father died in 2023, and residents haven't been pleased with their younger neighbor.

The chain has voluntarily removed select fresh ingredients at certain locations while public health officials continue their investigation.

Baltic Leaders Claim Moscow Eyeing Wave Of Infrastructure Attacks In Europe

NATO's 'eastern flank' members are at it again, seeking to hype an imminent Russian threat which they now say will target their critical infrastructure. 

The presidents of Poland, Lithuanian and Latvia have joined together and issued a dire warning over an impending plot on Wednesday, citing intelligence reports.

"We are talking about energy and transport infrastructure, facilities where damage could... disrupt the functioning of the entire energy system," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said at a joint press conference in Vilnius, alongside his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics.

"This planning is taking place at the highest level, effectively in Moscow," Nauseda stated.

And Rinkevics followed by asserting, "Even without a total Ukrainian victory, Russia may indirectly test Article 5 and response mechanisms at the alliance and European Union levels," he said.

via Latvian Presidency's office

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov quickly disputed the allegations that Russia is planning sabotage operations or some kind of invasion of Europe..

"This is just another fresh batch of scare stories designed to keep the brainwashing going and prepare the population for further militarization," he said.

Baltic governments have especially been warning about a Russian 'invasion' in some form or the other going back years into the Ukraine war.

Even lower security officials have chimed in, for example back in 2025, Renatas Požéla, head of Lithuania’s fire and rescue service, warned: 

"It is possible that we will see a massive army along the Baltic borders with the obvious goal of conquering all three countries within three days to a week."

In that prior instance he was talking about Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Their leaders and officials have been among the most outspoken anti-Russia hawks throughout the Ukraine conflict.

Moscow has long insisted that it has no intention of invading any EU or NATO member state. Tensions have soared, however, due to somewhat frequent drone incursions into European territory. But the Kremlin has said these are chiefly Ukrainian drones spilling over.

Tyler Durden Thu, 07/16/2026 - 04:15

The two men were raised by each other’s biological families, allegedly without anyone's knowledge.

ICE's Rio Grande Valley field office in Harlingen arrested 238 illegal immigrants in a single day, including convicted gang members and violent offenders.

Uber on Thursday launched a public takeover offer for Delivery Hero that ​values the German food delivery company at around $14.8 ‌billion, as part of the US ride-hailing firm's efforts to widen its food delivery network abroad.

Psychological well-being was significantly better among Mediterranean diet followers despite pandemic anxiety.

Neill's family members previously wrote in a statement that he was "cancer-free" at the time of his "sudden" death.