UNITED NATIONS, March 26 (IPS) - The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which began October 2023, has claimed the lives of more than 73,600 Palestinians and about 1,195 Israelis. But there are widespread charges, accusing Israel of war crimes, genocide, torture and abuse of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/03/26/42643 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/03/Over-8554-grave_-100x100.jpg"}NEW JERSEY, USA, March 26 (IPS) - Who benefits from a war of choice against Iran? The immediate political winners may include President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But if the war continues for a longer period, the political consequences for both Trump and Netanyahu could be uncertain. However, the most consistent beneficiaries are defense contractors, defense manufacturers and military lobbyists, who profit regardless of the outcome.
Read the full story, “Iran War: Winners and Losers”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/03/26/42642 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/03/Abdul-Momen-100x100.jpg"}
LONDON, March 25 (IPS) - Less than six months after Nepal’s Generation Z rose up in protest, the country has a new prime minister. A 35-year-old former rapper who soundtracked the protests swept to power in a landslide in the 5 March election.
Read the full story, “Nepal’s Gen Z Electoral Revolution”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/03/25/42636 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/03/Sanjit-Pariyar-100x100.jpg"}A New Mexico jury on Tuesday ordered Meta to pay $375 million after finding the company violated state law by misleading users about the safety of its platforms and allegedly enabling child sexual exploitation.
Jurors found the Facebook and Instagram parent company violated New Mexico’s consumer protection law following a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Raul Torrez, who accused Meta of failing to protect children from predators.
"The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety," said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. "Meta executives knew their products harmed children, disregarded warnings from their own employees, and lied to the public about what they knew. Today the jury joined families, educators, and child safety experts in saying enough is enough."
MARK ZUCKERBERG FACES JURY IN LANDMARK TRIAL OVER ALLEGED YOUTH HARM LINKED TO SOCIAL MEDIA
The verdict marks a major legal win for the state and is believed to be the first time a state has prevailed at trial against a major tech company over claims it harmed children through its platforms, according to the New Mexico State Justice Department.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by the state, alleged Meta created a "breeding ground" for child predators and misled users about safety protections on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
APPLE IMPLEMENTING AGE VERIFICATION TOOL TO ENSURE USERS ARE 18 AND UP FOR SOME APPS
The $375 million penalty is significantly lower than the roughly $2.1 billion New Mexico officials had sought, though the jury awarded the maximum allowed under state law of $5,000 per violation.
Meta said it disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal.
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"We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal," a Meta spokesperson told FOX Business in a statement. "We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online."
The case is separate from a high-profile Los Angeles trial over claims social media platforms contribute to youth addiction.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-tech/meta-ordered-pay-375m-after-jury-finds-platform-enabled-child-predators-landmark-new-mexico-caseAmerican workers are feeling more pressure in their lives, with a greater share reporting that they feel they're struggling than thriving in a new poll by Gallup.
Gallup on Tuesday released fresh data for the firm's Life Evaluation Index, which measured how people rate their current and expected future lives since 2008. It asks respondents to evaluate their current and future lives on a 10-point scale, which is broken down as "thriving," "struggling" or "suffering."
The firm's survey of U.S. workers conducted in the fourth quarter of 2025 found that the share of those thriving declined from 50% the same quarter a year ago to 46%, while those struggling rose from 46% to 49% in that period.
"For the first time since Gallup began measuring the life evaluation of the American workforce, more U.S. workers are struggling in their lives (49%) than thriving (46%)," the polling and analytics firm noted. Additionally, 5% of respondents were classified as "suffering."
The shift comes as a contrast with the index's findings in 2022 and 2023, when the share of American workers who said they're "thriving" was in the low-to-mid-50s in what was an indication of resilience after the economic turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The last decade saw relatively high numbers of respondents classified as thriving, with Gallup's metric remaining steady between 57% and 60% from 2009 to 2019.
Respondents classified as thriving briefly dipped to 55% in 2020 before it rebounded in 2021, but the figure has generally been on a steady decline since then.
The share of respondents who were thriving hit a recent peak in the third quarter of 2022, when it was 55% compared to 41% of respondents who were struggling. That 14-percentage point spread in favor of thriving was the largest differential since 2022.
"The slide in workers' thriving rate has been gradual but consistent. No quarter since early 2024 has shown sustained improvement – meaning back-to-back quarters when the thriving rate increased," Gallup wrote.
Workers who are struggling instead of thriving also pose challenges to employers, who may face more absenteeism or turnover from struggling workers.
"The significance to organizations and the economy is real given that worker wellbeing has a tangible impact on organizations' bottom line. Gallup research finds that workers who are not thriving are more likely to miss work due to illness and to be seeking or watching for a new job," the firm added.
"Thriving employees miss 53% fewer days of work due to health problems and are 32% less likely to be actively seeking a new job. As thriving falls, organizational performance risks follow," Gallup explained.
US ECONOMIC GROWTH REVISED LOWER IN FOURTH QUARTER
While the report indicated that all major segments of the U.S. workforce experienced a worsening outlook on their lives since 2022, Gallup noted that federal workers have seen a more severe and rapid decline in their outlooks.
Federal workers were more likely than the average U.S. worker to be thriving in 2022, when they had an average of 60%. That was six points above the national average and four points higher than state and local government workers.
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By late 2025, federal workers' thriving rate fell 12 points to an average of 48%, far outpacing the decline for average U.S. workers, whose rate was down six points to 48%, as well as state and local government workers, whose combined thriving rate was down six points to 50%.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/more-american-workers-struggling-than-thriving-first-time-pollUnited Airlines is warning that airfares could rise up to 20% if the cost of jet fuel remains elevated for longer due to the spike in oil prices amid the war in Iran.
United CEO Scott Kirby said in an interview on Bloomberg TV on Tuesday that the airline anticipates consumer demand for air travel will soften if higher fuel prices continue to push ticket prices higher.
Kirby added that United has already moved to cut 5% of its capacity on routes that aren't profitable and don't cover the cost of higher fuel prices, though he said that demand remains very strong for now.
"Demand is incredibly strong right now," Kirby told Bloomberg, adding that he does think that oil prices will be "higher for longer."
UNITED DOUBLES DOWN ON PREMIUM TRAVEL, NEW AIRPLANES
"It's reasonable for us to plan for that regardless, because the downside is pretty limited. If we leave a little bit of demand on the table by not flying as much this summer, so what, that's not a big deal. But it gives us more optionality on the other side for the recovery," he said in the interview.
Kirby said the firm's forecast that oil prices may rise as high as $175 a barrel and remain above $100 a barrel through the end of next year is "reasonable, I hope it's better and there's a good chance it's better, but I think it's also reasonable."
The United Airlines CEO told Bloomberg that if oil prices surge to the peak of the company's forecast it would be a "stress event" for the airline industry, and would be "nowhere near the magnitude of what happened in COVID."
UNITED AIRLINES SLASHES FLIGHTS AS IRAN WAR SENDS FUEL PRICES SOARING
While some global airlines have historically hedged against spikes in fuel costs through investment strategies, Kirby said in the interview that because of the company's size it's "really tough for us to hedge" because it moves the market when it tries to do so.
He said the company has been focused on its margins and has tripled the amount of cash it keeps on its balance sheet as an alternative to hedging fuel costs.
Kirby added that if oil prices remain at their current level it amounts to about an $11 billion expense for United, which would translate to about a 20% increase in airfares for the company to break even and cover that cost.
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He also noted that while prices are up relative to a year ago, airfares in 2025 were 2% lower than they were in 2019, even as inflation was up 25%, so the 15%-20% rise in airfares in recent weeks is "covering half to 60% of the inflationary increase."
Kirby was asked about the incident at New York City's LaGuardia Airport over the weekend, in which an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck while the airliner was landing. Both the pilot and first officer were killed, while dozens of injuries were reported.
He told Bloomberg that the U.S. air travel system is safe and is "by far the safest way to travel of any mode of transportation."
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Kirby added that he thinks there should be more investment in technology and staffing for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and that he sees the Trump administration as being committed to those priorities, which the CEO said should garner bipartisan support.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/united-airlines-warns-air-fares-could-jump-20-oil-prices-continue-surgeThe Fortnite craze might have reached its crescendo.
Epic Games announced layoffs of 1,000 employees Tuesday, citing declining Fortnite engagement.
"We've had challenges delivering consistent Fortnite magic with every season," CEO Tim Sweeney admitted in a memo to staff.
"Today we're laying off over 1000 Epic employees," the memo began. "I'm sorry we're here again. The downturn in Fortnite engagement that started in 2025 means we’re spending significantly more than we’re making, and we have to make major cuts to keep the company funded."
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Sweeney's memo also noted broader weakness in the video-game industry weighing on the company's finances.
The cuts, along with more than $500 million in savings from lower contracting and marketing spending and unfilled roles, would put the company in "a more stable place," according to Sweeney.
The cuts are the latest in the gaming sector, where companies have faced weaker growth as consumers have been sticking with proven titles amid economic uncertainty.
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But even those, especially live services games, which depend on a steady stream of new content to keep players engaged, are now showing signs of cracks.
"Market conditions today are the most extreme" since the early days of the company founded in 1991, Sweeney wrote, adding "the layoffs aren't related to AI."
The move marks Epic's second major round of layoffs in three years. In September 2023, the company cut about 830 jobs, or roughly 16% of its workforce.
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The gaming sector has faced mounting pressure. In September, Electronic Arts laid off hundreds of workers and canceled a Titanfall game that was in development at its Respawn Entertainment unit, according to media reports. Amazon's broader job cuts late last year also affected its gaming division.
"Some of the challenges we’re facing are industry-wide challenges: slower growth, weaker spending, and tougher cost economics; current consoles selling less than last generation’s; and games competing for time against other increasingly-engaging forms of entertainment," Sweeney wrote. "And some of our challenges are unique to Epic.
"Despite Fortnite remaining one of the most successful games in the world, we’ve had challenges delivering consistent Fortnite magic with every season; we’re only in the early stages of returning to mobile and optimizing Fortnite for the world’s billions of smartphones; and in being the industry’s vanguard we have taken a lot of bullets in a battle which is only in the early days of paying off for ourselves and all developers."
Laid-off workers at Epic Games will get "at least four months base pay" and extended "Epic-paid healthcare coverage," according to the memo.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/epic-games-cuts-1000-jobs-fortnite-magic-fades-extreme-market-conditionsThe U.S. Army has taken a major step toward autonomous aviation after receiving its first Black Hawk helicopter capable of flying with or without a pilot onboard, the War Department has announced.
The next-generation UH-60MX Black Hawk, developed with Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky unit, will now enter a rigorous testing phase as the Army pushes to integrate autonomy into its future fleet.
The aircraft is equipped with advanced flight systems that allow it to operate as a traditional helicopter, an optionally piloted aircraft or a fully autonomous platform controlled remotely from the ground.
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Officials said the delivery marks a milestone in the Army’s broader effort to modernize aviation and reduce risk to soldiers in dangerous environments.
"This capability will enhance mission effectiveness and survivability for warfighters today and lay the groundwork for tomorrow’s networked systems," Rich Benton, vice president and general manager at Sikorsky, said in a statement.
The technology at the core of the aircraft stems from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System, or ALIAS, a program launched more than a decade ago to simplify flight operations and improve safety, the War Department said.
Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy suite, integrated into the aircraft, acts as a digital co-pilot capable of handling complex flight tasks such as takeoff, navigation and landing.
The system allows the helicopter to identify landing zones, avoid obstacles and operate in low-visibility environments while reducing pilot workload.
Army officials said the aircraft also features a fly-by-wire system that replaces traditional mechanical controls with electronic ones, making it easier to handle in challenging conditions.
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The UH-60MX will serve as a test platform for the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command as engineers and pilots evaluate how the aircraft performs in real-world missions, including remote and autonomous operations.
The aircraft is part of a broader push under the Army’s Strategic Autonomy Flight Enabler program, which aims to develop a scalable autonomy kit that could be deployed across the entire Black Hawk fleet.
Defense officials said the long-term goal is to enable helicopters to carry out missions independently or with minimal human oversight, potentially reshaping how the Army conducts combat and support operations.
The Army has already tested similar systems on earlier Black Hawk models over hundreds of flight hours, officials said, signaling that the technology is nearing operational readiness.
In 2022, an autonomous Black Hawk completed a 30-minute flight with no crew onboard, demonstrating the technology’s viability.
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Officials say the latest aircraft represents a shift from experimental testing to operational evaluation, with a focus on real-world missions and future deployment across the fleet.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/army-test-first-ever-pilot-optional-black-hawk-helicopter-amid-major-tech-shiftFor many Americans, moving to Florida isn't just about the weather — it’s about escaping a "spendthrift" government that fritters away taxpayer dollars.
Gov. Ron DeSantis told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that the state’s massive 1.4 million Republican voter registration lead is driven by results: a 50-year low crime rate, top rankings in education freedom and a refusal to "hunt" down residents for income tax. From police officers fleeing "demagoguing" mayors to financial titans like Charles Schwab, the message is clear: the American Dream has officially relocated to the Sunshine State.
"Regardless of running or anything, we will be able to show that conservatism works. When you apply it aggressively, unapologetically, when you demonstrate leadership, when you cover all the issues, don't leave any stone unturned, no meat on the bone, you produce historic results," DeSantis said on the latest "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast, airing on Tuesday.
About one month ago, the Florida Chamber of Commerce told Fox News Digital that more than $4 million in wealth migrates to the state every single hour, and it is close to surpassing Australia as the world's 14th-largest economy.
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"Part of the secret sauce in Florida is that we're all on the same page," CEO Mark Wilson previously said. "I always say, if Florida was a stock, I'd be investing everything I had in it. It's because of our economic diversification strategy and our focus on growing business and growing jobs."
DeSantis said despite having 4 million more residents than New York, Florida’s annual state budget is typically half that of the Empire State’s. Additionally, state lawmakers have fast-tracked legislative plans that would provide a path to zero property tax.
"The problem with socialism is, eventually, you run out of other people's money. They can't square the circle. They tax, people leave, businesses leave, they get in a deeper hole, they go back to the well, and it's just a vicious cycle," Florida’s governor said.
"Florida leads the nation by a country mile [in income migration]," Wilson previously confirmed. "States like New York, Illinois and California are losing over 1 million dollars an hour of income. And so, if you look at the death spiral that New York is right now, for example, New Yorkers are looking at increasing income taxes, they're looking at increasing property taxes."
"When you honestly sit there and say California has lower taxes than Florida, you are lying. Everybody knows you're lying," DeSantis also said of Golden State leadership. "When you're gonna try to sell snake oil, you know you just cross a line where people just know it's B.S."
In recent years, Florida has become well-known for actively poaching police officers from blue cities by offering financial incentives and what the governor calls a "culture of support."
"We have a good culture of support for law enforcement," DeSantis said. "If you're in Chicago and you get into a situation, you're going to have the mayor demagoguing you, right? Here people have your back and it makes a difference and people feel like they're appreciated."
"And guess what? We have a 50-year low on our crime rate," he added.
High taxes and crime do not equal high quality, as evidenced by Florida’s top-tier education rankings, DeSantis also pointed out.
"We're ranked No. 1 [for] public higher education 10 years in a row... but the reality is that money is not producing a better quality of life for their people that they're taxing," he said.
"Charles Schwab, he starts this great financial company, super successful in San Francisco. He grew up in Northern Cal… and yet he moved to Florida," DeSantis expanded. "What he told me, the first time I saw him after he had moved here? Best decision he ever made."
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More proof that the "Florida model" is popular may also be found in the voter registration data.
"We had 300,000 more Democrats in this state when I ran in ‘18 in that tough election… Today, we have 1.4 million more registered Republicans. We've never seen a shift like that ever in modern American history," DeSantis said.
"We probably have the most diverse state… from Pensacola to South Beach… there’s definitely something here for everybody."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/never-seen-shift-like-this-desantis-details-floridas-historic-surge-driven-unapologetic-resultsMembers of Congress are losing a perk of flying Delta Air Lines because of the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
FOX Business confirmed Tuesday morning that Atlanta-based Delta has suspended specialty services for members of Congress flying Delta.
"Due to the impact on resources from the long-standing government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta," a company spokesperson told FOX Business. "Next to safety, Delta's no. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment."
Delta has traditionally given priority VIP service to congressional members, allowing them to skip TSA lines and escorting them to their gates.
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Now members of Congress will be told they are going to be treated like other passengers based on their respective SkyMiles status.
Additionally, Delta was suspending its "special congressional desk service" for lawmakers until the government shutdown ends, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The airport chaos, traveler frustrations and long wait times through the first weekend of the busy spring travel season have apparently hit too close to home for Delta, which has its headquarters in Atlanta.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, well-known to be the busiest in the world, has been hamstrung by TSA security lines up to nine hours long, according to some reports.
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"Due to current federal conditions, passengers are advised to allow at least 4 hours or more for domestic and international screenings," a current online advisory read at ATL.com on Tuesday morning.
Delta and other airlines have long warned the shutdown is worsening airport disruptions, particularly as unpaid TSA workers face mounting financial pressure and staffing shortages fuel extended checkpoint waits.
Depending on the side of the aisle, President Donald Trump has been both commended and critiqued for deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to give TSA help at the most distressed airports around the country.
An on-site FOX Business report found TSA security lines in Atlanta had all but been solved after ICE agents arrived.
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Last week, the Senate approved by unanimous consent a proposal to eliminate the special airport privileges that members of Congress have enjoyed. The measure, introduced by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, would end a long-criticized perk that has symbolized the gap between elected officials and the public they serve.
The bill still needed House approval and the president’s signature before it could become law.
"As many Americans probably don’t know but most of us in Washington do know, airports around the country allow Members of Congress to bypass the usual TSA security screening process at airports nationwide," Cornyn wrote in a statement, rebuking the "unfair perk." "In other words, they get to skip the line.
"We know trust in Congress is at an all-time low, but today, thank goodness, the Senate has taken an important step towards restoring the trust of the people we are here to represent."
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On other issues tying up the Senate, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., has been forcing the issue on Democrats amid the debate on the SAVE America Act — Trump's signature election integrity legislation — and the confirmation of now-former Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., as the next Department of Homeland Security secretary.
"We've had DHS shut down for 38 days," Kennedy told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" on Tuesday morning. "I think, the Democrats at one point voted to fund DHS and then they backtracked.
"We've been debating the SAVE Act for, I don't know, 10 days. I guess we're stuck. I'm a big believer that when you're stuck, you ought to try to plow around the stump, not through it."
Kennedy has been pitching working around Democrats' obstruction that is gumming up the Senate and leading to the TSA chaos.
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"Sen. [Ted] Cruz and I, a few days ago, came up with a two-step process to solve both problems," Kennedy continued. "Step one, we would open up everything at DHS except ICE, including TSA, which the Democrats have already agreed to.
"And then we would, we would fund ICE through reconciliation, which we could do only with Republican votes. We would not need any Democratic votes."
The same goes for the SAVE America Act, giving it the "Byrd bath" to pass it with just the Senate Republican majority (currently 53-47) instead of 60 votes, according to Kennedy.
It is ultimately up to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to move in that direction.
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"We pitched this to Sen. Thune a couple of days ago," Kennedy said. "He pitched it to President Trump. President Trump, as you know, from his tweets said, no.
"But I talked to Sen. Thune last night, and he says the president has reconsidered and may be on board."
Passing the SAVE America Act before the midterms is a top priority for Trump, who could find his final two years of his second term hamstrung by even more Democrat-forced gridlock.
Georgia, notably, is a key battleground for the Senate majority as Republicans eye Sen. Jon Ossof, D-Ga., as a potential seat to flip in November.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is leaning in on Ossoff's continued votes that keep DHS shut down, foisting up to nine-hour TSA security delays in Atlanta.
"Jon Ossoff cares more about protecting illegals like Laken Riley's killer than standing with hardworking Georgians," NRSC regional press secretary wrote in a statement. "Ossoff never refuses a chance to use Georgians as political pawns. Ossoff must stop putting illegals first and end his DHS shutdown."
FOX Business' Chase Williams contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/delta-suspends-vip-services-congress-members-amid-dhs-shutdown-tsa-delaysArkansas star Darius Acuff Jr. is setting records on and off the court.
Acuff, 19, fresh off a historic performance for the Razorbacks in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, landed a signature shoe deal with Reebok, according to ESPN.
Acuff’s shoe with Reebok made him the first NCAA men’s athlete to receive a signature shoe with a major U.S. brand while still in college, according to the report.
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Reebok later announced that, "Acuff 1 on the way."
The Razorbacks freshman has dazzled this season, leading the SEC in both points per game (23.3) and assists per game (6.5), becoming the first player since Pete Maravich (1969-70) to lead the conference in both categories.
Acuff’s strong play was a big reason that Arkansas won the SEC tournament this season. His play has continued into the NCAA tournament, as he scored 60 points in the team’s first two games.
In No. 4 Arkansas’ first-round 97-78 victory over No. 13 Hawaii, Acuff scored 24 points with seven assists and three rebounds. In the Razorbacks; 94-88 win over No. 12 High Point in the Round of 32, Acuff scored 36 points with six assists and one rebound.
Acuff passed Kentucky’s Pat Riley (58 points) for the most points by an SEC player in his first two NCAA tournament games within a single year. He also is just the second player in the last 50 years (Billy Donovan with Providence in 1986-87) to average 30 points and five assists per game in his first two career tournament games.
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With his standout play, Acuff is likely to be selected high in the 2026 NBA Draft, should he declare.
Acuff will look to continue Arkansas’ run when they play No. 1-seeded Arizona on Thursday at 9:45 p.m. ET.
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https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/arkansas-darius-acuff-jr-makes-history-first-ever-signature-shoe-deal-ncaa-mens-playerBlackRock CEO Larry Fink said in his annual chairman's letter that Trump Accounts could provide a "very significant" boost in jump-starting savings and investment by younger Americans.
Fink noted that Americans are struggling to save money for emergencies in addition to funding retirement plans, and explained that early wealth-building accounts for newborn children can help them start life on a solid financial footing.
He said that experiments in Canada, the U.K. and Singapore have shown evidence that these accounts are a good investment, making it more likely account holders obtain advanced degrees, start a business and own a home.
"Now the United States is adopting a form of this policy with Trump Accounts," Fink wrote, saying that Trump Accounts created by last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act can be funded in a variety of ways.
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"There is some nuance in how these accounts are funded. In some cases, it's a pilot program funded by the government, which would need to be renewed," Fink wrote.
"Funding can also come through personal contributions, or through certain employer match programs, such as the one we have at BlackRock for our employees. In other cases, the money comes from private funders."
"We'll see how these accounts evolve, but if they are structured thoughtfully, and paired with existing investment vehicles for education and retirement (like 529 and 401(k) plans), this could be a very significant step toward more young Americans growing with their country," Fink added.
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Several companies, including BlackRock, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, among others, have announced plans to contribute to Trump Accounts for their U.S. employees' children.
Those companies will match the federal government's $1,000 contribution, while other firms have planned different contribution levels.
Wealthy Americans have also made philanthropic contributions to the government to provide seed money for the accounts.
For example, Michael and Susan Dell have committed $6.25 billion to seed 25 million accounts with $250 each, with the contributions expected to reach the accounts of most children aged 10 and under who were born prior to the qualifying date for the federal contribution.
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Trump Accounts will be invested in a broad index fund of U.S. stocks, much like the low-cost funds available in many retirement plans, and will be in the child's name with their parents or guardian serving as the custodian of the account until they turn 18.
At that time, the funds can be used at the young adult's discretion for things like educational expenses, starting a business, a down payment on a home, saving for retirement or a rainy day fund.
Parents may contribute up to $5,000 per year to the accounts, while a parent's employer can contribute up to $2,500 per year without impacting the employee's taxable income.
Children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, will receive $1,000 in seed funding from the federal government in addition to any other contributions. Trump Accounts are also available to children born before Jan. 1, 2025, who are under the age of 18 – although they won't receive the $1,000 federal government.
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The accounts are expected to officially launch on July 4, 2026. Parents may enroll their child in the program by making an election when they file their taxes on the new IRS Form 4547.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/blackrock-ceo-says-trump-accounts-could-very-significant-step-young-americansUnited Airlines is accelerating its sweeping push into premium travel as surging fuel costs driven by the conflict with Iran drive oil prices higher and put downward pressure on profits.
The carrier warned oil could remain above $100 a barrel through 2027 and reach as high as $175, a scenario that would increase its annual fuel bill by roughly $11 billion — more than double its best-ever profit, CEO Scott Kirby said.
United plans to cut about five percentage points of capacity this year while expanding higher-margin premium seating, betting wealthier travelers and corporate customers will continue paying elevated fares.
The airline also expects to take delivery of more than 250 aircraft by April 2028 – the most by any airline over a two-year period – as it builds out premium offerings across its network.
A STATE-BY-STATE LOOK AT GAS PRICES AS IRAN CONFLICT PUSHES OIL HIGHER
"We've positioned ourselves to get through these storms that are inevitable, stay focused on the long term and keep investing for the long term," Kirby said.
New Airbus A321neo "Coastliner" and A321XLR aircraft will feature lie-flat Polaris seats and larger premium cabins, significantly increasing high-end capacity. The A321XLR alone will double premium seating compared with the older Boeing 757 jets it is replacing.
United said the expansion will leave it with nearly twice as many lie-flat seats as its closest competitor, reflecting a broader industry shift toward higher-paying customers who are less sensitive to rising prices.
Andrew Nocella, United's chief commercial officer, said demand remains strong.
"I can tell you that the environment is strong," Nocella said. "We've been able to pass through many of the price increases necessary to cover" rising fuel costs.
United has already increased premium seats per North American departure by about 40% since 2021 while hiring more than 60,000 employees and overhauling much of its fleet.
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By cutting less profitable flying and expanding premium capacity, United is aiming to protect margins and offset billions in higher fuel costs without significantly weakening demand.
Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/united-doubles-down-premium-travel-new-airplanesSwarms of low-cost Iranian drones are rewriting the rules of war, but one U.S. defense contractor says it can mass-produce autonomous military systems to match them at a fraction of the traditional cost.
"Our adversaries are not coming at us with $10-plus million fighter planes, necessarily. They're coming at us with very, very low-cost munitions," Trae Stephens, co-founder and executive chairman of Anduril Industries, told "Mornings with Maria" Tuesday.
The challenge, he said, is to "significantly" bring down the cost of engagement instead of firing off $2 million interceptors, noting that the company is doing so by "building… low-cost autonomous systems" that give U.S. forces the ability to "fight the wars of tomorrow, rather than the wars of yesterday."
AMERICAN DRONE COMPANY CHALLENGES CHINESE DOMINANCE WHILE PREPARING TROOPS FOR SWARM ATTACKS
"That's been Anduril's focus since the beginning…" he said.
Stephens detailed the company's autonomous systems designed to collaborate on the battlefield. Some drones act as "hunters" that scout and identify targets, while others serve as "killers" capable of striking them.
TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TO BLOCK DEFENSE COMPANIES FROM BUYING BACK STOCK UNTIL ARMS PRODUCTION IMPROVES
"You have drones that are going out and looking for other things, like our Ghost platform. You have loitering munitions that fly around looking for things, and then when they find those things, they can go and take kinetic action against them, and then you have platforms like our Barracuda 500 that are… missiles that are intended to go after targets directly," he explained.
The aim is to replace Cold War-era technology with low-cost autonomous systems that can be mass-produced.
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"We're leveraging the advances in manufacturing techniques, the advances and autonomy in the manufacturing system to produce at high, high scale at very low cost," he said.
The company is already moving to scale up production, with a new manufacturing facility in Ohio set to produce these autonomous military systems at high volume as wartime demand grows.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/andurils-hunter-killer-drone-strategy-targets-low-cost-iranian-threats-without-high-price-tagsFord Motor is recalling 254,640 SUVs in the U.S. due to a software defect that can disable rearview cameras and key driver-assistance safety features, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The issue stems from an unexpected reset of the vehicle’s image processing software, which may cause the rearview camera image to fail and disable advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) such as pre-collision assist, lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring.
Regulators warn that the loss of these systems can reduce a driver’s ability to detect hazards, increasing the risk of a crash.
The recall affects certain 2022–2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024–2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Lincoln Aviator and 2025 Ford Explorer vehicles.
FORD IN DEEP WATER AFTER SWEEPING RECALLS HIT EVERY MODEL SINCE 2020 – WITH ONE EXCEPTION
According to NHTSA filings, the problem is linked to the Image Processing Module A (IPMA), which can become overloaded when tracking a high volume of moving objects – such as in dense urban traffic – triggering a system reset. In some cases, repeated resets over multiple ignition cycles can lead to a persistent loss of functionality.
Drivers may see warning messages such as "Front Camera Fault," "Pre-Collision Assist Not Available" or "Lane-Keeping System Off" when the issue occurs, and blind-spot indicators may also illuminate.
Ford said it is not aware of any crashes, injuries or fires related to the defect.
The automaker plans to fix the issue through a software update to the IPMA system, which will be provided either through over-the-air (OTA) updates or at dealerships free of charge.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed beginning March 30, 2026, and affected vehicle identification numbers will be searchable on NHTSA’s website starting March 25.
The recall highlights the auto industry’s growing reliance on software to power core vehicle safety systems, as well as the challenges that can arise when those systems fail or behave unpredictably in real-world driving conditions.
Advanced driver-assistance features have become increasingly common across new vehicles, with regulators requiring certain technologies – such as rearview cameras – in all new cars sold in the U.S.
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Consumers can check whether their vehicle is included in the recall by visiting NHTSA's website or contacting Ford customer service.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/ford-recalls-more-than-254000-suvs-due-software-issues
UNITED NATIONS, March 25 (IPS) - Professor Kaveh Madani of Iran has been named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize laureate. The award will be formally presented by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in August during World Water Week in Stockholm.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/03/25/42633 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/03/UN71130063_199990017999_-100x100.jpg"}
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, March 25 (IPS) - Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter prohibits member states from using threats or force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Violating international law, the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. The ostensible reason for this unprovoked aggression was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Read the full story, “A World Order in Crisis: War, Power, and Resistance”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/03/25/42632 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/03/charter_45-100x100.jpg"}Energy titans at the CERAWeek conference in Houston are sounding the alarm, warning that the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran is causing long-term damage to the global economy.
Despite the White House’s energy chief aiming to ease concerns, the executives of oil giants like TotalEnergies, Chevron, Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC and Vitol Americas expressed concern about prolonged Iran-linked volatility.
"The consequence is not only high energy prices. It will damage other supply chains," TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne said, according to Reuters.
"This is raising the cost of living for those who can least afford it and slowing economic growth everywhere. From factories to farms to families around the world, the human cost is mounting by the day," ADNOC CEO Sultan Al Jaber said.
INSIDE CHEVRON'S FLAGSHIP REFINERY TAPPING INTO VENEZUELAN CRUDE AFTER MADURO'S CAPTURE
"It will take time to come out of this," Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said at the conference on Monday, while Vitol Americas’ Ben Marshall cautioned about "severe" demand destruction if global benchmark Brent crude eventually hits $120 a barrel.
The U.S. standard for oil prices, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, was trading at roughly $91.74 per barrel just before the market opened Tuesday, up about 4% from its previous close. WTI reached a 52-week high of $113.41 per barrel late last week, according to market data.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright joined FOX Business' Lauren Simonetti on "Varney & Co." Monday to discuss how a potential agreement with Iran could help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize prices after weeks of disruption.
"They would go down quite a bit. If we see a pathway to have the Strait of Hormuz open soon and energy flowing again, you'd see energy prices drop pretty significantly," Wright said.
"That could happen if a peace agreement is reached," Wright continued. "If Iran thinks enough is enough, and they're willing to make a deal... then there'll be a deal."
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the Trump administration is working to blunt rising oil prices by allowing Iranian crude already at sea to be sold, a move he described as turning Tehran’s own strategy against it.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent first outlined the approach, saying the administration could temporarily lift sanctions on roughly 140 million barrels of Iranian oil loaded on tankers, adding supply to global markets rather than intervening directly in oil futures markets.
President Donald Trump has opened a path of diplomacy with Iran, allowing a five-day window for negotiations to end the conflict this week. The pause began on Tuesday even amid reports that the U.S. and Israel were escalating other aspects of the war against Tehran.
FOX Business’ Arabella Bennett and Fox News’ Taylor Penley contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/energy/oil-giants-warn-iran-war-inflicting-damage-not-only-energy-prices-entire-global-economyU.S. efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy face deep skepticism from military leadership, even as negotiations unfold behind the scenes.
Retired Gen. Jack Keane, a Fox News strategic analyst, joined FOX Business' Maria Bartiromo on "Mornings with Maria" to discuss whether diplomacy can achieve the same objectives as military action, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and dismantling Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities.
Keane said the administration is attempting to use diplomatic leverage to reach outcomes that could otherwise be achieved through force but warned the challenge lies in trusting Tehran's commitments.
"I'm highly skeptical... This is a regime for 47 years. They are pathological liars and they're cheaters... It's very difficult to take them at their word," Keane said.
MARKETS HANGING ON 'EVERY WORD' AS US-IRAN CONFLICT NEARS ONE MONTH, FORMER NEC DIRECTOR WARNS
The negotiations, he noted, are taking place indirectly through intermediaries, even as both sides publicly signal conflicting positions about whether talks are happening at all.
Keane emphasized that U.S. and Israeli military leaders are confident they could meet their objectives through force if necessary, including reopening key shipping lanes and eliminating Iran's ability to sustain attacks.
"If we can do that through negotiations... And we absolutely are confident that it's real... It remains to be seen," Keane said.
ENERGY PRICES COULD FALL 'PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY' IF IRAN DEAL REACHED, ENERGY SECRETARY SAYS
He added that Iran's motivations in any deal would likely center on regime survival, economic recovery and sanctions relief, raising further questions about how much the regime is willing to concede.
"We'll see what this deal really entails when we get down to the specifics," he said.
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RUFIJI, Tanzania, March 24 (IPS) - By the time the auction begins at Nangurukuru fish market in Tanzania’s southern Lindi region, the crisis is already visible. Wooden canoes that once returned from the Rufiji River with heavy catches now bring only a fraction of what they used to. Traders scan for the long-whiskered catfish that once defined the market but find none.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/03/24/42628 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/03/migratory-fish-100x100.jpg"}Billionaire Elon Musk said that Tesla and SpaceX will build an advanced chip facility in Austin, Texas, to help power the two companies' emerging technologies amid a shortage of chips.
"Terafab will technically be two fabs, each making only one chip design," Musk wrote Sunday in a post on X.
One of Terafab's facilities will be focused on AI chips for Tesla's electric vehicles and Optimus humanoid robots, while the other will be focused on AI chips for space-based data centers made by SpaceX.
Musk said that the Terafab chips will be necessary to meet his companies' demand for computing power that exceeds what it can obtain from suppliers.
AMD CEO SAYS AI DEMAND IS 'GOING THROUGH THE ROOF' AS COSTS CLIMB
"We either build the Terafab or we don’t have the chips," Musk said during a presentation in an Austin facility on Saturday, adding current global chip production would meet only a small fraction of his companies’ future needs.
Musk thanked the companies' existing chip suppliers, including Samsung, TSMC and Micron, but said that the demand from his companies would eventually exceed total global chip output, prompting the need for the new AI chip plant.
ALTMAN CALLS MUSK'S SPACE DATA CENTER PLANS ‘RIDICULOUS’ FOR CURRENT AI COMPUTING NEEDS
Musk also said that SpaceX's AI chip for space-based data centers will need to have special characteristics to withstand the environment in space and function as intended.
"We need a high‑powered chip designed for space that takes into account the harsher environment in space, where you've got high power, high energy ions, photons, you've got electron build up," Musk said, adding it would need to operate at higher temperatures.
"It's a hostile environment in space," Musk explained. "You want to optimize it for space, and you also want to generally run it a little hotter than you would normally run a chip on Earth to minimize the radiator mass."
NVIDIA LEADS AMERICA’S AI 'INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION' WITH MAJOR MANUFACTURING MOVE
Musk did not give a timeline for the new project. Musk has a track record of announcing highly ambitious projects, though several have faced delays or fallen away.
Terafab will eventually produce one terawatt of computing capacity a year, compared with about half a terawatt currently generated across the U.S., Musk said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/musk-says-tesla-spacex-build-advanced-chip-manufacturing-facilityResidents of a Texas city were urged to shelter in place following an explosion and fire at a Valero oil refinery that sent massive plumes of smoke billowing into the air.
The incident happened Monday at Valero’s Port Arthur Refinery, which is located about 90 miles east of Houston and processes around 435,000 barrels per day. The company says about 770 employees work at the site, but there were no injuries, according to Port Arthur Mayor Charlotte Moses.
"There's been an explosion, yes, but we're OK, everybody's OK," Moses said in a video posted on Facebook late Monday. "They're trying to put the fire out as quickly as possible. They are working fast, our firefighters are on the scene. They're working really hard."
Port Arthur is advising residents who live in the areas of Stillwell Boulevard West to South of Highway 73, Sabine Pass and Pleasure Island to adhere to an "immediate shelter in place."
ENERGY PRICES COULD FALL ‘PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY’ IF IRAN DEAL REACHED, ENERGY SECRETARY SAYS
"For your safety, please remain in place until the ‘All Clear’ is given by emergency personnel," the city said.
Port Arthur has a population of around 56,000.
"Currently, there is a fire in a unit at Valero’s Port Arthur, Texas refinery," Valero told FOX Business in a statement on Tuesday morning. "All personnel have been accounted for. Valero's emergency response team is responding and coordinating with local authorities. As a precaution, Jefferson County officials have closed State Highways 82 and 87. As always, the safety of our workers is our top priority."
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Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens told FOX4 Beaumont that an industrial heater was likely behind the explosion.
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"Emergency response coordinators and regional staff have been deployed with handheld and mobile air monitoring assets in response to the Valero fire in Port Arthur, TX and are coordinating activities through incident command," the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality wrote on X.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/texas-oil-refinery-explosion-sends-smoke-air-residents-advised-shelter-placeHome heating oil firms are facing mounting cost pressures as rising crude and diesel prices tied to Middle East tensions squeeze margins and disrupt operations across New England.
The recent spike follows a cold winter that boosted demand for heating oil, leaving both consumers and suppliers exposed to higher costs. Businesses say they are trying to avoid passing those increases on to customers, even as expenses climb sharply.
"We had to lower our prices to be able to get the phones to start ringing more. People are holding off on auto deliveries because the prices are so high, and we can't blame them on that," said Andrew Chesney, owner of Southern New Hampshire Energy.
Heating oil providers say volatility in energy markets is complicating planning, as rising crude prices coincide with surging diesel costs needed to fuel delivery fleets.
Chesney said a month ago it cost around $8,000 to fill up one of their delivery trucks with diesel, and today it’s between $12,000 and $15,000. Between filling up four trucks and getting all the necessary oil and fuel, it costs Southern New Hampshire Energy around $50,000 a day.
RISING GAS PRICES FROM IRAN CONFLICT PUT GOP ON DEFENSE AFTER PREVIOUS BIDEN ATTACKS
"We're trying to cut corners where we can to save the people money, but it's hard to also on our end. We're not making a huge profit at all," said Chesney.
TRUMP ADMIN OFFICIAL SAYS THERE’S A 'VERY GOOD CHANCE' GAS PRICES WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL BY SUMMER
Some companies are implementing new policies to manage rising costs. In Massachusetts, Atlantic Oil Company posted a disclaimer on their website saying: "Due to recent and ongoing events in the Middle East, we have currently suspended any deliveries below 125 gallons. We have also added a surcharge of $40 for any orders that take less than the 125 gallon minimum."
"I have people come in, long-time customers saying, 'you know, I can't really pay for this,' and we try to help them. We say, ‘you know, we could, take some payment now,’ because in the summer you won't need to pay for your oil, typically," said Ted Triandafilou, General Manager of Atlantic Oil Company.
Triandafilou said his company is experiencing a similar jump in diesel costs.
"Depending on the size of the truck, we have multiple trucks of different sizes. So it could be over. As of now, it's over $12,000 to fill the truck up as it may have been, you know, $5,000-$6,000 about a month ago."
Both operators said daily price swings are adding to uncertainty.
"We really don't know where it's going to go from here and prices are increasing and decreasing anywhere from 10 cents to 25 cents a day right now with everything going on in the world," said Chesney.
"Prices change daily just like gas prices typically do, and a lot of time, I've seen … the prices go up in the morning – let's say, jump 20, 30 cents, crazy numbers – and then slowly during the day, they'll drop back down, but by the close of the market, they're back up again," said Triandafilou. "It's getting to the point where I don't even bother displaying the price outside because I'd just be running out and changing it again."
According to AAA, the average cost for a gallon of diesel on March 20 was $5.15, approaching the record average of $5.80 in 2022.
"The last time we saw diesel prices this high was in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine," said AAA spokesperson Mark Schieldrop. "The current situation is a little bit different because we're seeing significant impacts on production. We are also seeing all those cargo flows out of the Strait of Hormuz being impacted. So, there are some long-term impacts here."
Schieldrop said that the record could be broken if the conflict continues. Even if the conflict ended today, the prices wouldn't drop tomorrow.
"It is true that prices shoot up like a rocket and then tend to drift down like a feather," said Schieldrop. "It's going to take a sustained period of time, and many analysts believe that the impact could be lasting for more than a year, even if the conflict ends in the short term."
OIL, GAS PRICES JUMP AS TRUMP FLIRTS WITH STRIKING IRANIAN OIL INFRASTRUCTURE
Schieldrop says it can be tough to cut corners on gasoline prices to save money.
"We urge folks to try to drive less. That's a tough bargain for folks who have to drive, but stacking your trips, trying to drive more economically," said Schieldrop. "Easing up on the gas pedal, drive a little slower, follow the speed limit, and you can increase your fuel economy pretty dramatically."
For homeowners, demand may ease in the coming months as warmer weather reduces heating needs. But for businesses, the seasonal slowdown brings its own challenges.
"We're actually coming into our slower season. So everyone's going to be holding off on getting home heating oil till winter," said Chesney.
"So it's going to start slowing down for our employees, and we're going to go through a struggle ourselves running a business and keeping things going till the prices lower down."
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Companies like Southern New Hampshire Energy are relying on other services, including plumbing, heating and cooling, to offset seasonal declines in fuel demand.
"Support local. We're a family-owned and operated company. We're not a corporate company, so we structure our business on family. And we're just a small business trying to make our way through life right now," said Chesney.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/small-business/home-heating-oil-prices-diesel-costs-middle-eastA nationwide recall has expanded to include close to 10 million pounds of frozen vegetable fried rice sold at Trader Joe's stores in dozens of states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc. announced a recall of 9,885,240 pounds of Trader Joe’s Vegetable Fried Rice after small pieces of glass were found in the frozen meals.
The glass shards ranged from one to three cm long and two to four mm wide.
90,000 BOTTLES OF CHILDREN'S IBUPROFEN RECALLED NATIONWIDE, FDA SAYS
The recalled products were sold in stores across 43 states, with the seven unaffected states being Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Iowa.
The affected items had best-buy dates ranging from Feb. 28, 2026, to Nov. 19, 2026.
The latest notice was an expansion of a recall initially issued last month and expanded earlier this month. Nearly 37 million pounds of ready-to-eat items were affected in the total recall effort, which impacted more than a dozen brands in addition to Trader Joe's, such as Kroger and Tai Pei.
Impacted items include Trader Joe’s Chicken Shu Mai and Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice with stir-fried rice, vegetables, seasoned dark chicken meat and eggs.
The USDA classified the alert as a Class II recall in its latest notice, which means "use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."
GM RECALLS 17K VEHICLES OVER REAR TOE LINK FRACTURE THAT COULD LEAD TO CRASHES
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Customers are urged not to consume the recalled items. They should dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
No injuries have been reported thus far in connection with the recall, but the USDA said anyone concerned about potential injuries should contact a healthcare provider.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/nearly-10m-pounds-frozen-fried-rice-sold-trader-joes-added-recall-usdaApple co-founder Steve Wozniak is raising concerns about artificial intelligence as the technology becomes more embedded in everyday life, warning that it may not yet deliver the reliability and human understanding people expect.
Steve Wozniak joined FOX Business' Liz Claman on "The Claman Countdown" to discuss how AI is evolving and where he believes it falls short despite rapid advancements across the tech industry.
Wozniak, who helped build Apple's earliest computers and shape the personal computing revolution, framed his skepticism around the importance of human thinking and emotional awareness, arguing that technology should reflect genuine understanding rather than just well-written responses.
"I want to know some human being like myself is thinking, knowing what I might feel, and understanding emotions and all that," Wozniak said.
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Drawing from his own experience testing AI tools, Wozniak said the systems often fail to answer questions directly, instead offering broad or unrelated information that misses the user's true need.
"I want such reliable content every time. I am not a fan of AI," Wozniak said.
NEW EMOJIS COMING TO APPLE IPHONES IN LATEST UPDATE
His remarks also touched on the broader impact of technology on human behavior, suggesting that growing dependence on automated systems could change how people process information and solve problems.
"You become dependent on it," Wozniak said.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/apple-co-founder-steve-wozniak-says-hes-not-fan-aiFormer National Economic Council director Gary Cohn warned that markets are hanging on "every word" as the United States’ war on Iran stretches into a fourth week.
Joining "The Claman Countdown" on Monday, the former Trump economic official discussed how markets are behaving as President Donald Trump’s Operation Epic Fury begins to weigh heavily on Americans economically.
"I think volatility can be your friend, and it can be your enemy," he said Monday. "Because remember, fear and greed are what drive markets. Volatility enhances fear and enhances greed."
WALTZ SAYS TRUMP IS USING IRAN'S OWN OIL STRATEGY AGAINST ITSELF TO DRIVE DOWN GLOBAL PRICES
"Since we've been involved in this issue, this war in the Middle East, markets have been hanging on every word," Cohn explained.
Cohn’s comments come amid a crisis in the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. ships still banned from passing through, driving up prices of goods domestically.
About 20% of the world’s crude oil and natural gas passes through the critical waterway, and with U.S. ships blocked, gas prices in the homeland are up more than $1.
The national average currently sits at $3.95 per gallon for regular gasoline, compared to $2.94 before the U.S. struck Iran, per AAA.
The economist said the Strait of Hormuz's closure has led to "enormous" market volatility.
AIRLINES MAY CUT FLIGHT SCHEDULES AS IRAN TENSIONS DRIVE UP FUEL COSTS, EXPERTS WARN
"Markets are an edge. We know that," Cohn said. "We've known that for the last couple of weeks."
Cohn asserted that the state of the economy hinges on the outcome of the Middle East conflict, and the price of oil is at the center.
"Movement in oil… it's weighing down heavily on stock markets and other assets," the former NEC director said. "So right now, the biggest determinant in where we go in our short-term economy and long-term economy is what goes on in the Middle East. It is the price of oil. Everything else economically is in pretty fair shape."
Cohn shared advice for investors on navigating volatile times, saying that markets are "fickle" and move quickly with just a hint of information.
"What the volatility means is you have to have a game plan. If you know where you wanna buy, and you know what you wanna sell, you will get opportunities to get in and out of markets that you may not have seen and think was possible."
Cohn also revealed the biggest mistake investors can make is acting out of "fear or greed" as they decide to make big moves or stay cautious.
"When you think something's really cheap, you need to buy it. You can't wait for it to get cheaper. And I think traditional investors are always trying to buy the bottom and sell the top. As a professional investor, I've never once in my life bought the bottom and sold the top," he said.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/markets-hanging-every-word-us-iran-conflict-nears-one-month-former-nec-director-warnsDoorDash is rolling out an emergency relief program to help delivery drivers cope with rising gas prices as the Iran war drives fuel costs higher.
The program, effective immediately through April 26, 2026, combines cash-back incentives with weekly payments to help reduce fuel costs for active Dashers.
At the center of the initiative is a 10% cash back offer on gas purchases for Dashers using the DoorDash Crimson Visa debit card. The company is also introducing weekly relief payments for Dashers who drive at least 125 miles while making deliveries, with payouts ranging from $5 to $15 depending on mileage.
Dashers who reach 125 miles earn $5 (about $1.00 per gallon in savings), those who hit 200 miles earn $10 (about $1.25 per gallon), and those who drive 250 miles earn $15 (about $1.50 per gallon).
TRUMP PROMISED LOWER COSTS; THE IRAN CONFLICT NOW THREATENS THAT PLEDGE
Drivers who qualify for both benefits could see total savings between $1.40 and $1.90 per gallon, depending on how much they drive.
"Rising gas prices have a real impact on Dashers, especially those who are delivering the most," said Cody Aughney, vice president of dasher and logistics at DoorDash. "This program is about giving Dashers real savings at the pump."
The move is part of DoorDash’s broader effort to support its driver network as fuel prices remain a key concern for gig workers who rely on their vehicles for income.
The effort comes as gas prices rise sharply nationwide.
A STATE-BY-STATE LOOK AT GAS PRICES AS IRAN CONFLICT PUSHES OIL HIGHER
The national average is now $3.95 per gallon, up $1.02 from a month ago, according to AAA.
Prices are climbing across nearly every region, with some states already well above the national average. On the West Coast, drivers are seeing the highest costs, with prices reaching $5.79 per gallon in California and $5.27 in Washington.
Along the East Coast, gas prices are nearing—or in some cases surpassing—$3.70 per gallon, including $3.86 in New York and $3.80 in Maine.
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Meanwhile, in the Midwest, Illinois stands out with prices at $4.16 per gallon, while much of the region remains in the mid-$3 range. Prices are generally lower across the South, though still on the rise, with Texas at $3.62 and Florida at $3.93.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/doordash-rolls-out-emergency-gas-relief-prices-squeeze-driversRunway incursions remain a threat to the safety of air travel as jets face risks from collisions with other aircraft as well as vehicles on the tarmac.
An incident occurred at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night when an Air Canada Express CRJ-900, operated by the airline's regional partner Jazz Aviation as Flight 4686, collided with a fire truck while it was landing. The jet carried 72 passengers and four crew members and arrived in New York from Montreal.
The collision killed both the pilot and first officers, according to Jazz and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, while dozens of injuries were reported. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent a team of experts to investigate the incident.
The tragic accident comes as the public has in recent years become more aware of runway incursions at the nation's airports, which occur when an aircraft, vehicle or person is incorrectly present in an area designated for the landing and take off of an aircraft.
HUNDREDS OF FLIGHTS CANCELED, DELAYED AT LAGUARDIA AIRPORT AFTER AIR CANADA RUNWAY COLLISION
Data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that there were 97 runway incursions reported in January of this year – a slight decline from the 133 reported in the same month last year, as well as the 118 incursions in January 2024 and the 123 incursions that were recorded in January 2023.
Of the incursions reported this January, 17 were classified as operational incidents while 56 were attributed to pilot deviation, 22 to deviations by vehicles or pedestrians, and two others were classified as "other" in the FAA's data.
AMERICAN AIRLINES JET CANCELS TAKEOFF AFTER LAX RUNWAY INCURSION
Boyd Group International President Mike Boyd told FOX Business that "this incident, as tragic as it is, is an indication of the complexity of running an airport, not so much an indication that we have a sloppy system. It's just a system that does occasionally fail because 'I didn't hear the message.'"
"We're highly, highly dependent upon humans here. We're dependent upon the people in the cockpit, we're dependent upon not just technology but the people in the towers, and sometimes things can fall through," he said.
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Boyd said the LaGuardia collision and a 2024 incident in Japan when two aircraft collided on the runway show that while such incidents are relatively rare, there are also ways safety systems can be improved to prevent them from becoming a recurring issue.
He added that while there have been instances in which traffic control systems haven't been as safe as they needed to be at a given moment, it has generally been safe and effective.
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Boyd also said that "we just have to work to make sure we have fewer runway incursions, particularly now that we have the benefit of a lot more scrutiny of when these things happen. We didn't have that before. We do now – that's a good thing."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/fatal-laguardia-collision-renews-focus-runway-incursion-risks-across-us