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Mojtaba Khamenei’s Rise Sparks Market Turmoil as Hardliners Mobilize

People attend a gathering to support Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026.  Iran’s hardline factions mounted a powerful show of support for newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei , rallying across Tehran in a display that signaled a tightening of conservative control and diminished hopes for de-escalation in the Middle East.  The demonstrations, marked by mass gatherings and imagery linking Mojtaba to his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underscored the regime’s consolidation at a moment of heightened regional conflict.  Analysts warn that the hardliners’ unified backing suggests Iran is unlikely to soften its stance amid ongoing tensions with the U.S. and Israel. Global markets reacted sharply. Fears that prolonged instability could further disrupt energy supplies sent oil prices soaring and triggered steep declines in major stock indices. With one of the most significan...

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Top Polluting Cities Revealed at COP29 Amid Growing Frustration Over Fossil Fuels

 

At the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, new data has highlighted the world’s most polluting cities, sparking increased frustration over the persistent presence of fossil fuels. According to Climate Trace, a database co-founded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, cities in Asia and the United States are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.

Shanghai tops the list, emitting 256 million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually, followed closely by Tokyo with 250 million metric tons. New York City and Houston also rank high, with emissions of 160 million and 150 million metric tons, respectively. These figures are staggering, considering that some of these cities’ emissions surpass those of entire countries like Colombia and Norway.

The data, which combines satellite and ground observations with artificial intelligence, underscores the urgent need for effective climate action. Activists and climate officials at the summit expressed their frustration with the slow progress in reducing fossil fuel use and the influence of fossil fuel companies on climate policies.

As the world grapples with the escalating climate crisis, the revelations at COP29 serve as a stark reminder of the critical need for global cooperation and decisive action to curb emissions and transition to sustainable energy sources.


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