Pakistan Talks In Peril As Iran Now Demands Lifting Blockade Of Its Ports, After US Navy Boarded Another Vessel

Chicago Approves 19% Hotel Tax To Fund Tourism Push The Chicago City Council has approved a plan to boost tourism marketing by raising hotel taxes. Under Ordinance 2026-0022544, the total tax rate on hotel rooms will increase from 17.5% to 19% in downtown and nearby areas, according to Fox News. The higher rate will apply to hotels with more than 100 rooms that choose to participate. The report says that alongside the tax increase, the council created a Tourism Improvement District (TID) to fund Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism marketing organization. Revenue...

Futures, Bonds Tumble, Oil Soars After Trump Dashes Hopes For Early End To Iran War Global risk assets, including US equity futures and global markets, as well as Treasuries and precious metals, tumbled as oil soared with Brent hitting $110 this morning after Trump's late Wednesday speech refused to pivot and dashed hopes that the Hormuz Strait would reopen soon and the war in the Middle East is nearing a swift resolution. As of 8:00am ET, S&P 500 futures dropped 1.7%, reversing yesterday's short squeeze as investors refuse to add...

Several US Warships Reportedly Transit Strait Of Hormuz As Pakistan Talks Led By Vance Start With Indirect Format Summary:  Axios reporting that 'several' US Navy warships crossed the Hormuz Strait on Saturday without coordination with Tehran in a huge, surprising development. Peace talks in Pakistan begin in indirect format, led by Vance and on Iran side - Ghalibaf, Arachchi. Saturday sees more Israeli strikes on Lebanon, with Hezbollah supporting Pakistan talks but rejecting 'separate deal' directly with Israel. Trump on talks and potential bigger future attacks on Iran: "You don’t need a backup plan" as Iran's "military...