
Bitcoin surges to all-time high, goes past $118,000 level
By early Friday in London, the cryptocurrency topped $118,000 for the first time and some options traders were targeting levels as high as $150,000. Bullish signs are accumulating in various areas, from renewed ETF inflows to a US Congressional committee declaring next week as "Crypto Week." There are also signs that China, which banned crypto speculation for four years, is rethinking its policy.
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Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gold climbs over 1% on safe-haven bids as Trump imposes fresh tariffs
Gold prices rose more than 1 per cent on Friday as investors sought safe-haven assets following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of new tariffs, while silver reached its highest level in over 13 years. Spot gold gained 1 per cent to USD 3,356.93 per ounce by 2:43 p.m. EDT (1843 GMT), after touching its highest level since June 24 earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures closed up 1.4 per cent at USD 3,371.20. Global stocks fell after Trump ramped up his tariff assault on Canada, saying the U.S. would impose a 35 per cent tariff on imports next month and planned to impose blanket tariffs of 15 per cent or 20 per cent on most other trading partners. Trump this week also announced a 50 per cent tariff on U.S. copper imports and the same levy on goods from Brazil. "We are in an environment where the uncertainty premium is back in the market and gold is getting a safe-haven bid," said Aakash Doshi, global head of gold strategy at State Street Global Advisors. "I think the range in the third quarter is most likely between USD 3,100 and USD 3,500. It's been a very strong first half of the year, and I believe we're now in a bit more of a consolidation phase." Non-yielding gold tends to perform well during economic uncertainty and in a low interest rate environment. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on Thursday reaffirmed the possibility of a rate cut this month, with investors pricing in 50 basis points of cuts by year-end. Elsewhere, spot silver rose 3.9 per cent to USD 38.46 per ounce, its highest level since September 2011. The premium of the U.S. futures for silver, platinum and palladium against the London benchmarks rose after Trump's copper tariff announcement this week, leading to a spike in lease rates. "Traders unwound open positions on NYMEX/COMEX and had to borrow on the other side," said a precious metals trader, adding that this activity in the so-called white metals did not affect gold. Platinum gained 2.8 per cent to USD 1,399.13 and palladium climbed 6.5 per cent to USD 1,216.12. The rally in palladium is likely driven by speculation that Trump's upcoming " major" statement on Russia, expected on Monday, could involve sanctions that impact the metal, said Tai Wong, an independent metals trader. "Fundamentally palladium isn't great but if Russian supplies are interrupted this could run for a bit."
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First Post
35 minutes ago
- First Post
US may deport migrants to 'third countries' with just six hours notice under new ICE policy: Report
US immigration authorities can now deport migrants to other countries with as little as six hours' notice, under a new Trump administration policy aimed at speeding up removals. read more US judge rules Trump admin violated court order in deporting migrants to South Sudan. File Image/US Department of Defense via Reuters US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could deport migrants to countries other than their own with as little as six hours' notice, according to a new memo from a top Trump administration official. Usually, ICE waits at least 24 hours after notifying migrants of their deportation to a 'third country.' But in 'urgent situations,' the agency can now carry out deportations much faster, said the memo dated July 9 from acting ICE director Todd Lyons. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Migrants could be sent to countries that have promised not to persecute or torture them, without needing further legal procedures. The new policy signals the Trump administration's intent to speed up deportations to countries around the world. In June, the US Supreme Court cleared the way for the administration to resume such deportations by lifting a lower court order that had blocked removals without first checking whether migrants feared persecution in the third country. Following that ruling, ICE deported eight migrants from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan, and Vietnam to South Sudan. Reports say the administration also recently urged officials in five African nations—Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon—to accept migrants being deported from other places. The Trump administration argues that the policy helps quickly remove people who should not be in the US, especially those with criminal records. However, critics warn that the policy is dangerous and cruel, saying it could send people to countries where they might face violence, lack connections, or not speak the language. Trina Realmuto, a lawyer representing a migrants' group challenging third-country deportations in court, said the new policy 'falls far short of providing the statutory and due process protections that the law requires.'


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Gaza Stripped
…or, in Trump-speak, LOSERS can be choosers Hallelujah! Gazans, says Bibi, must have 'free choice'. Even at gunpoint. Sometime ago Israel unleashed 'Gideon's Chariots' on the Strip-of-land Gazans consider homeland. Just before this airpower-aided ground blitz, Bibi reportedly suggested folks being rendered homeless would 'desire' to 'emigrate'. It followed that, by choosing to emigrate, they'd be protected from bombardment – by those bombarding them into choosing to emigrate. Wanting it US-'owned', Trump visualises Gaza stripped into a 'freedom zone', its residents ideally opting to be cleared out along with the rubble. That way you get a 'freed-up zone', so that a Riviera runs through it. Gaza 'freed' of Gazans, property (re)developers can 'zone' in, building resorts for celebrity sun-tanners. And, consensually 'zoned out', Palestinians can 'free' themselves from demolished homes, bombed-out hospitals and weaponised hunger. Call it VRS – voluntary removal scheme. Kudos to Katz, though, for unveiling the grandest (game)plan. Israel's defence minister wants a 'humanitarian city' rising from Rafah's ruins where 600,000 Palestinians would first be shunted. Followed by everyone else still alive and cart-loadable. 'Screened', they'd all enter haven on earth. And, Katz reportedly eyeing an 'emigration plan', they'd exit when exiled…to greener pastures, naturally. Aren't refugees abroad chirpier than dead men walking to food-as-bait sites at home? Where's 'choice' here, you ask. Well, copy-Katz plainly likes Trump's 'clean-out' Gaza project to 'relocate' Gazans for – you guessed it – their own good. Here's Bibi explaining Trump's 'brilliant vision': 'It's called free choice. If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to…' Remember, for Trump, the best (one-state) solution to conflict is 'surrounding countries' welcoming Gaza's 'emigrants'. If only immigrants in America found him as MAGA-nanimous. So here's how Katz's 'humanitarian' (strata)gem promotes 'free choice'. Round up 2.1mn war-ravaged people caught between Hamas's atrocities and Israel's excesses. Herd them into a veritable internment camp. Let them live cheek-by-jowl, face misery and hardship, and have no exit. Then watch them depart, 'willingly'. Bibi says Gaza shouldn't be a 'prison', but an 'open place' where Palestinians (and butterflies?) are free. Well, make that 'open' as in open-air prison, where freedom's just another word for nothing left to choose. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.