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Trump estimated that the US could get Ukraine up and running with Patriot production by this fall.

The former NBA star explained why he "politely declined" to attend the "Bad Blood" singer and the NFL player's star-studded wedding.

The former NBA star explained why he "politely declined" to attend the "Bad Blood" singer and the NFL player's star-studded wedding.

President Trump threatened to “take over Kharg Island” as tensions with Iran reignite — saying there was “not a thing” Tehran can do to stop it.

South Korea Falls Into Bear Market As Memory Euphoria Fizzles

It started off with the usual morning rush by retail momentum chasers into the handful of massive, market-moving names (read Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix), but as has been the case over the past two weeks, the initial euphoria quickly reversed and the Kospi rolled over, closing down 5.4%, 9.99% over the past two days, and down 22% from the all time high of 9385 hit just over 2 weeks ago on Jun 18.

... officially entering a technical bear market as investors express growing concerns about the long-term prospects of the AI chipmakers that have driven a world-beating rally.

To be sure, the Kospi is still the world’s top-performing major stock index this year, having returned more than 70% in local currency terms. but the momentum is clearly to the downside, and finding dip buyers who are willing to hold more than just a few minutes is becoming especially difficult. 

On Wednesday, the market’s two largest constituents, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, fell 6.3% and 5.7%, respectively. Shares of the two companies have surged as a result of demand for their memory chips, although attention is increasingly turning to cheaper Chinese-made memory alternatives made by such companies as CXMT (DRAM) and YMTC (NAND).

Sure enough, sentiment has started to turn. Samsung’s shares tumbled as much as 10% on Tuesday, even though the company projected a third straight quarter of record operating profit.

According to the FT, analysts attributed the recent declines to a lack of clarity on how South Korean chipmakers would enforce long-term agreements with customers over chip purchases, echoing a joke we first made just a few days ago. 

Expect a surge in AI tokens for contract breach research https://t.co/G1qolxhkVr

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) July 1, 2026

US competitors such as Micron have shifted their business model to include longer-term purchasing agreements, but it remains unclear whether Samsung and SK Hynix have been able to secure similar contracts.

“At the moment we have not heard officially from the Korean peers how they plan on executing on these long-term contracts,” said Jason Lui, head of Asia-Pacific equity and derivative strategy at BNP Paribas. Lui said South Korean chipmakers could see their price-to-earnings ratio rise “if they can move to longer-term contracts”.

“Given the fundamentals of how strong the Korean market has been over the past two years it’s challenging to call it a bear market,” he said.

Volatility in the South Korean market is being exacerbated by the proliferation of leveraged exchange traded funds that magnify gains and losses. On Tuesday the head of South Korea’s financial regulator warned of “excessive” leveraged stock investments among retail investors.

S. Korea's Deputy PM Koo Yun-Cheol said at the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee plenary meeting that he is discussing supplementary measures in response to concerns that single-stock leveraged ETFs are amplifying stock-market volatilityhttps://t.co/1O4dXYuPVF

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) July 8, 2026

Some fund managers welcomed the move downwards, saying it was inevitable.

“This is a necessary correction because the rise was too steep and fast,” said Chan Lee of Petra Capital Management. “There are possible buying opportunities outside of AI as well.”

Jongmin Shim, Korea equity strategist at CLSA, said: “I don’t think this story is over. It’s just a bit of a correction on the way up. Nothing goes up forever.”

The correction comes just days before SK Hynix plans to list shares on US exchanges for the first time in a $29bn offering that is expected to be the largest-ever share issuance by an Asian company.

Tyler Durden Wed, 07/08/2026 - 09:45

Of the 1,000 guests at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's MSG wedding, some of them didn't know the stars too well, if at all.

There were seemingly as many brands as fans at the Hollywood Bowl last night for the larger-than-life world premiere of Disney’s latest live-action adaptation, “Moana” — where 4,000 eager attendees filled the venue. Coppertone passed out sunscreen, EZPZ handed out Dole Whip pineapple soft serve, LEGO displayed a life-size Moana and every guest was offered...

Hilary Duff is releasing a new song for Warner Bros. upcoming animated "The Cat in the Hat" film.

President Trump was gifted a massive ring by Belgium days before the two countries' World Cup dustup.

Lounge in style this season.

No one is disputing Major League Baseball’s most glaring All-Star snub to date.

"We don't want dance videos with our staff. We don't want fashion shows, outfits of the day, or other silly content that detracts from you as journalists," WPLG's vice president of news wrote.

“Kelly was a bright light- kind, thoughtful, hysterical, inappropriate, and just one of the most amazing people I've ever known."

The trash cubes, alternately labeled "New York City Garbage" and "Not Invited Edition (Taylor & Travis' Wedding)," have been flying out the door.

An out-of-this-world scent collection.

Zelensky In Ankara Still Insistent On Ukraine Joining NATO: 'Alliance For The Future'

President Volodymyr Zelensky is in full court press mode while being present in Ankara for the annual NATO summit, amid Western leaders including President Trump. He has predictably renewed his argument for Ukraine to join the North Atlantic alliance, while also touting some momentum on the battlefield as Russia comes under repeat long-range drone attacks. 

Zelensky thanked leaders "who have clearly stated Ukraine belongs in NATO, because NATO with Ukraine is the alliance for the future" - and then posed in Tuesday remarks, "I have a question for you. Do you really believe it? Do you really believe it would be right to leave outside NATO, a country and a people with this level of defensive capability?"

He argued further: "If we already have these capabilities, if Ukrainians already know how to fight like this, then it does make sense for these capabilities to become a part of the alliance's collective defense that would make all of us stronger."

Source: Ukrainian Presidency/Anadolu via Getty Images

Ukraine has been boasting of its premier drone capabilities, which it says is now clearly proven on the battlefield, but has also admitted that Ukraine needs assistance matching Russia's ballistic capabilities.

Zelensky said "Europe urgently needs its own capability to produce anti-ballistic systems and the missiles they require." He added: "The one thing we still need to do here in Europe is build a strong defense against Russia's ballistic missiles. It's a big challenge… this is Russia's last major advantage."

It's interesting that Zelensky is arguing that his country should become a full-fledged NATO member based on already in effect being militarily integrated.

This was one of the Kremlin's very rationales for launching the 'special military operation' in Ukraine in the first place. Also interesting is that Moscow is now referencing it as a 'war' on a much more official level...

Peskov via Russian state media sources:

Dmitri Peskov says this is no longer just a “special military operation” but a real war, because Kiev is backed by Berlin, Paris, The Hague, Oslo, and Washington — with Western weapons, satellites, and infrastructure helping direct strikes.

“In these conditions, we must be… pic.twitter.com/oe0TMttCqO

— Margarita Simonyan (@M_Simonyan) July 6, 2026

Russia still has as a main front-and-center demand that Ukraine definitively and permanently reject aspirations to join NATO. Moscow also still requires full political recognition over the four eastern annexed oblasts, as well as Crimea. 

Western officials have still been reluctant to fully back some kind of rapid NATO membership track for Ukraine, knowing it would take the Ukraine crisis from more of a proxy war situation strait into WW3-style direct war between Russia and NATO.

Tyler Durden Wed, 07/08/2026 - 09:25

Kim Kardashian has been vocal about letting daughter North West "express herself" through boundary-pushing clothes, hair and makeup — but the 13-year-old's latest mode of self-expression could come with some serious and irreversible risks.

Higher Electricity Rates In Blue States Linked To Renewable Energy Policies

Authored by AG News Staff via American Greatness,

A new analysis by Always On Energy Research and the Institute for Energy Research concludes that renewable energy mandates and net-zero policies have contributed to higher electricity prices in states that adopted them, while states with fewer climate-related mandates generally have lower electricity costs.

The analysis examined electricity pricing data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and found that most states with electricity rates above the national average voted for the Democratic presidential nominee in the 2020 and 2024 elections.

According to the report, 86 percent of states with above-average electricity prices supported the Democratic nominee in both elections. By comparison, 80 percent of the 10 states with the lowest electricity prices voted for the Republican nominee.

Researchers said the study focused on identifying policy differences between states with higher and lower electricity rates.

Last year, the organizations highlighted California, New York, Florida, Kentucky and Louisiana as examples of how renewable portfolio standards, net-zero targets, net-metering programs and other climate-related policies may affect electricity prices.

The groups have now expanded the project, releasing detailed profiles of the original 13 colonies on the Fourth of July. Additional state profiles are expected to be published in phases.

"We wanted to have a one-stop shop where people could kind of get a feel for what's the energy mix in their state, what policies are being implemented, and what's the impact of those policies on what they're paying at the plug," Isaac Orr, vice president of research for Always On Energy Research, told Just the News.

The report evaluates whether states require utilities to obtain a minimum share of electricity from renewable sources, have utility net-zero commitments, offer net-metering programs for rooftop solar customers, impose carbon-pricing or cap-and-trade systems, restrict natural gas infrastructure or have policies related to electricity demand from data centers.

"The map shows these kinds of subtle distinctions in the price of electricity for each of these states, and we wanted to be able to demonstrate why that is from a policy perspective," Orr said.

The researchers noted that political affiliation alone does not explain electricity prices. Oregon and Washington, both Democratic-leaning states, have relatively low electricity costs because of their extensive hydroelectric generation.

According to the report, utilities may benefit financially from net-zero commitments because they can earn greater returns by investing in new infrastructure.

The organizations said they hope the project will serve as a resource for voters and policymakers evaluating the impact of state energy policies.

Alex Stevens, manager of policy and communications for the Institute for Energy Research, said the report has generated significant interest, including discussions with state officials and testimony before the Maryland Legislature on the relationship between energy policies and electricity prices.

Tom Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research, cited federal data showing electricity prices increased 27 percent between January 2021 and January 2025, followed by an additional 11 percent increase from January through September 2025.

Under the Federal Power Act, states have primary authority over electricity generation portfolios, retail pricing and resource planning.

"Americans deserve transparent information on how state decisions directly affect their wallet," Pyle said. "The bottom line is that the decisions that states make, good or bad, have consequences for American families and businesses when it comes to electricity affordability."

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

The attendee also gushed about the "unbelievable fun" he had at last week's Madison Square Garden nuptials, detailing the non-traditional reception.

The attendee also gushed about the "unbelievable fun" he had at last week's Madison Square Garden nuptials, detailing the non-traditional reception.