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Markets Slip as Investors Bet on Extended U.S.–Iran Ceasefire

  Stocks Edge Lower as Investors Hope U.S.–Iran Ceasefire Will Hold Stocks drifted lower today as markets balanced cautious optimism over a potential extension of the U.S.–Iran ceasefire with persistent geopolitical and inflation concerns. Recent trading sessions have shown that even modest signs of diplomatic progress can meaningfully shift investor sentiment. Asian and U.S. markets rallied earlier this week on hopes that Washington and Tehran would continue negotiations, helping unwind some of the war-driven risk premiums that had pushed oil and volatility higher. Despite the pullback, investors remain hopeful that the ceasefire—currently set to expire soon—will be extended, giving negotiators more time to work toward a longer-term agreement. Reports indicate both sides are considering adding another two weeks to the pause, a move that has already helped push Brent crude below the recent peak of nearly US$120 per barrel. Lower oil prices have eased pressure on inflation expecta...

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Trump Expands Crime Crackdown: Armed National Guard in D.C., Chicago and Baltimore in Sight

 

                Members of the National Guard stand watch outside of Union Station in the U.S. capital Washington.  


President Donald Trump has authorized National Guard troops patrolling Washington, D.C., to carry weapons, marking a significant escalation in his ongoing crime crackdown. The move comes two weeks after hundreds of unarmed Guard members were deployed to the capital under a declared “crime emergency.”

According to officials, troops will now carry M17 pistols or M4 rifles, with strict orders to use force only as a last resort in response to imminent threats. Trump has credited the deployment with eliminating crime in the city — a claim at odds with official data showing crime rates have been declining for months.

The president has also signaled plans to extend similar measures to other Democratic-led cities, naming Chicago and Baltimore as likely next targets. Pentagon officials have begun preliminary planning for a potential Chicago deployment, though no formal orders have been issued.

Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, have condemned the proposals, arguing that Trump lacks the authority to send troops into their states without consent. Baltimore officials have also pushed back, noting that the city is experiencing its lowest homicide rate in over 50 years.

The prospect of further deployments has sparked a national debate over federal authority, public safety, and the balance between local governance and presidential power.

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