Trump threatens Iran desalination plants 💥, Bitcoin security risks 🚨, Virgin Galactic ticket sales 🌌

Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly expressed to his aides that he is open to ending the conflict with Iran while keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed, indicating a strategic decision not to reopen the critical oil passageway.

Timesofisrael · 3 minute read

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, speaking at Harvard University, indicated that despite rising energy prices, inflation expectations remain stable, and the Fed will not implement immediate interest rate hikes. His comments led traders to significantly lower the probability of a rate increase this year, highlighting the Fed's focus on long-term economic impacts rather than short-term energy shocks.

CNBC · 4 minute read

Iran launched a drone attack on the Al Salmi tanker anchored at Dubai port, setting it ablaze and damaging its hull. The fire was extinguished without any oil leak or injuries, amid an ongoing conflict involving the US and Iran that has heightened tensions and affected global oil prices.

The Guardian · 3 minute read

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized NATO for not supporting the US during the Iran conflict, highlighting issues like the denial of military bases and suggesting that the US may need to reevaluate its relationship with the alliance after the war concludes. Rubio's remarks follow similar criticisms from President Trump and reflect tensions over NATO's response to the Strait of Hormuz closure and US military operations in the Middle East.

Straitstimes · 3 minute read

Asian governments, including those of South Korea, India, and Indonesia, are buying back bonds to manage a surge in yields caused by rising energy prices. Amidst global market volatility, these interventions aim to stabilize local bond markets, with similar actions seen outside Asia in countries like Brazil.

Theedgemalaysia · 4 minute read

Donald Trump has threatened to target Iran's civilian infrastructure, including desalination plants, posing a threat to the water supply for millions, in actions deemed illegal under international law. Experts have condemned the threats as illegal collective punishment and potential war crimes, while negotiations continue between the US and Iran amidst ongoing conflict.

Aljazeera · 5 minute read

The Yemen-based Houthis are debating more aggressive actions, including targeting Red Sea shipping, after launching ballistic missiles toward Israel. Internal leadership divisions have delayed their decision-making, while U.S. and Saudi officials believe the group is currently seeking to avoid escalation against American and Saudi targets.

Ynetnews · 2 minute read

Iran fired new missiles and vowed defiance against US threats to destroy key infrastructure unless it accepts a deal to end the ongoing war. The conflict, involving Israel's attacks on Lebanon and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, has sent global oil prices soaring and destabilized regions, with significant military action and diplomatic engagements from multiple countries including the US, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.

Enca · 5 minute read

Virgin Galactic has reopened ticket sales for its space tourism flights after a two-year pause, offering 50 spots at $750,000 each for trips starting in late 2026 or early 2027. This move comes amid challenges, including past delays and a fatal crash, as the company continues developing reusable space vehicles to sustain the industry.

Yahoo Finance · 3 minute read

China's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 50.4 in March, surpassing forecasts and marking the best performance in a year, driven by strong export orders and increased production following a national holiday. Despite challenges from Middle East-related cost increases, Chinese exports surged 21.8% in the first two months, with high demand for Chinese goods including solar panels and batteries.

CNBC · 3 minute read

Rick Rieder, BlackRock CIO of global fixed income, discusses the strength of equity markets and provides insights on portfolio management strategies during an appearance on 'Closing Bell'.

CNBC · 1 minute read

Westpac has indicated that Australia stands to gain economically as global conflicts drive up prices, potentially benefiting the country's export-driven economy.

Theedgesingapore · 3 minute read

Rising U.S. real yields, particularly on 10-year TIPS, present a significant challenge to risk assets like Bitcoin, which lacks inherent yield or cash flow and has seen declining institutional demand with a drop in Bitfinex's absorption-to-emissions ratio. The increase in real yields is pulling capital away from non-yielding assets and is expected to persist, creating a challenging environment for Bitcoin unless Fed rates lower and liquidity improves.

CoinDesk · 4 minute read

Google's Quantum AI team has revealed that the quantum computing power needed to compromise Bitcoin's security may be significantly lower than previously believed, suggesting that a quantum attack could be feasible sooner than expected. Their research indicates that fewer than 500,000 qubits might be sufficient for such an attack, compared to earlier estimates requiring millions, raising concerns about the vulnerability of Bitcoin transactions and wallets, especially after the Taproot upgrade.

Kucoin · 4 minute read

Jack Dorsey’s Square on Monday announced it began automatically enabling bitcoin payments for millions of eligible U.S. small businesses, marking one of the most aggressive pushes yet to integrate crypto into mainstream commerce.

Mexc · 3 minute read

The Labor Department has proposed a rule providing 'safe harbor' protections for 401(k) plan fiduciaries to include alternative assets, such as private equity and cryptocurrency, in retirement portfolios. This initiative, stemming from a 2025 executive order by President Trump, aims to democratize access to these investment types, though it faces criticism over potential increased risk and fees for individual investors.

Morningstar · 6 minute read