Inflation’s pace in the U.S. moderated to 2.4 percent last month, led by a decline in gasoline prices amid a global oil glut and a slowdown in the rate of rent increases.
MARKET OVERVIEW – ECONOMIC UPDATE
U.S. equity markets posted their worst week since last November, despite an encouraging inflation report and an economy that grew more jobs than many had expected.
SPECIAL REPORT: AI FEARS GRIP EQUITY MARKETS
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: As we had forecast last year at this time, prepare for a Dot-com Bust 2.0. See: ● “DOT.COM BUST 2.0? CHINA’S DEEPSEEK MAKES CLAIMS THAT......
ISRAEL APPROVES PROPOSAL TO KEEP STEALING WEST BANK LAND
Israel took another step toward annexing the West Bank on Sunday when its government approved a proposal that will register parts of the West Bank as “state property,” which Bezalel Smotrich, the settler finance minister, said is the continuation of “the settlement revolution to control all our lands.”
ICE’D OUT: COURTS HAVE RULED 4,400 TIMES THAT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS HAVE JAILED IMMIGRANTS UNLAWFULLY
The Trump administration has been handed stinging rebukes from federal courts in the U.S. since October, which ruled that over 4,400 immigrants have been unlawfully detained during the government’s crackdown on illegal immigration, Reuters reported.
PRE-TEENS WHO CAN’T PUT DOWN THEIR PHONES ARE MORE AT RISK FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, STUDY SAYS
A newly released study found that pre-teens who showed “addiction-like” behavior with their screens had a higher risk of various mental health issues, ranging from suicidal thoughts, drug abuse, and depression.
HAS TRUMP LOST CONTROL TO NETANYAHU?
In our discussion on Monday, Nima and I examine the problematic situation in which Netanyahu has placed US President Donald Trump.
Global Economy
SPOTLIGHT: BIGS GETTING BIGGER
Chicago-based asset manager Nuveen will buy Schroder’s, the iconic, 200-year-old London financial services firm, for $13.5 billion.
SPOTLIGHT: THE AUTO INDUSTRY’S ROUGH ROAD
Nissan Motor will post losses totaling $4.2 billion this fiscal year as it continues its restructuring plan to survive in a global market defined by weak auto sales, U.S. tariffs, and a slower-than-expected shift among consumers to electric cars.
BEIJING CLAMPS DOWN ON CHINA’S AI STOCK BOOM
While U.S.-listed stocks related to artificial intelligence (AI) swell their valuations unchecked, Chinese officials are taking steps to quell what might be seen as irrational exuberance.
U.S. Economy
U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT SLASHES JOB GROWTH TOTALS AGAIN
In 2025, U.S. businesses added just 181,000 nonfarm jobs, an average of barely 15,000 a month and 69 percent fewer than the 584,000 previously estimated, the U.S. labor department said last week.
AMERICANS BEAR BRUNT OF TRUMP’S TARIFFS, DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM WHITE HOUSE
The New York Federal Reserve released a study last week that found the American consumer and companies paid about 90 percent of the tariffs that were implemented under President Donald Trump, despite promises from the White House that trading partners would bear the brunt of the costs.
U.S. HOME SALES DROP SHARPLY, SIGNALING “NEW HOUSING CRISIS”
In January, the sale of pre-owned U.S. homes dove 8.4 percent from December’s volume and 4.4 percent below the number in January 2025 to set the slowest pace since December 2023 and the sharpest month-on-month decline since February 2022, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported.
Trends in AI
AI AS A PATHWAY TO THE DIVINE
Religious believers and their shepherds are using AI to get closer to the Almighty.
AN AI READS MRI BRAIN SCANS AND FLAGS EMERGENCIES IN SECONDS
At the University of Michigan, scientists have developed an AI system that interprets MRI brain scans in seconds, accurately diagnosing a broad array of more than 50 conditions instantly and deciding how urgently a patient needs treatment.
ALIBABA UNVEILS AI “BRAIN” FOR ROBOTS
In a further sign of AI’s gallop into the field of robotics, Chinese tech giant Alibaba has shown off its open source “RynnBrain” AI designed to help robots carry out everyday chores.
Hi-Tech Science
RUSSIAN COMPANY SAYS IT TURNS PIGEONS INTO BIODRONES
Neiry, a Moscow research company, is testing cyborg pigeons that could take over some aerial surveillance chores from drones.
CHINA OPENS ROBOT FIGHT CLUB
China has inaugurated the Ultimate Robot Knockout Legend (URKL 2026), a mixed martial arts tournament that will last throughout this year. The ultimate victor will win a gold championship belt worth ¥10 million, or about $1.44 million.
A NEW WEIGHT-LOSS DRUG GOES RIGHT TO THE BRAIN
Ozempic, Wegovey, and other in-demand weight-loss drugs work by slowing digestion, making your stomach feel full longer and delaying the sense of hunger.