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GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday addressed the protests rattling his nation, insisting that “rioters must be put in their place”.
The comments by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may be a green light to authorities to pursue a more aggressive approach to the demonstrations, which have been going on for a week.
The protests take their root in the country’s ailing economy as Iran’s rial currency now trades at around 1.4 million to the dollar.
“We talk to protesters, the officials must talk to them,” Ayatollah Khamenei told an audience in Tehran, Iran’s capital. “But there is no benefit
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
After a year marked by government shutdown, tariffs, controversial economic policies, the Epstein files and ICE, we now enter the second calendar year of President Donald Trump's second term.
As 2026 begins, the split across party lines and among Americans continues to manifest itself in the president's approval ratings.
"Donald Trump's approval rating reflects his rollercoaster year," according to The Economist. Americans, according to the article, are concerned about how the president has handled the economy and "worry that Mr. Trump’s tariffs and health-care spending policies will cost t
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
U.S. President Donald Trump and top Iranian officials exchanged dueling threats Friday as widening protests swept across parts of the Islamic Republic, further escalating tensions between the countries after America bombed Iranian nuclear sites in June.
At least eight people have been killed so far in violence surrounding the demonstrations, which were sparked in part by the collapse of Iran’s rial currency but have increasingly seen crowds chanting anti-government slogans.
The protests, now in their sixth day, have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa A
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Widening demonstrations sparked by Iran's ailing economy spread Thursday into the Islamic Republic's rural provinces, with at least eight people being killed in the first fatalities reported among security forces and protesters, authorities said.

The deaths may mark the start of a heavier-handed response by Iran's theocracy over the demonstrations, which have slowed in the capital, Tehran, but expanded elsewhere. The fatalities, one on Wednesday and five on Thursday, occurred in three cities predominantly home to Iran's Lur ethnic group.
The protests have become the biggest in Iran since 2
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Mexico closed 2025 with weak economic growth and is heading into 2026 with limited expansion prospects, keeping the country among the least dynamic economies in Latin America, according to local projections and estimates from United Nations agencies.
Mexico's central bank, Banco de México, cut its gross domestic product growth forecast for the end of 2025 by half, to 0.3% from 0.6% estimated in August.
With that outcome, Mexico's economy will post two consecutive years of growth below the average for Latin America and the Caribbean, according to estimates from the Economic Co
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk responded to reports about him funding the GOP for midterms and has expressed his concerns about the future of the U.S. if the “radical left” comes to power.
Late Thursday, Musk, in a post on his social media platform X, warned that the U.S. would be in dire straits if the Democrats take control. He predicted that this would lead to an influx of illegal immigration and fraud, which would fundamentally change the country.
Don't Miss:
Fast Company Calls It a ‘Groundbreaking Step for the Creator Economy' — Investors Can Still Get In at $0.85/Share
Missed Tesl
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) is included among the 20 Best Performing Dividend Stocks in 2025.
On December 19, Wells Fargo raised its price target on Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) to $125 from $115 and kept an Equal Weight rating. The firm sees a mixed setup for 2026 across the group, but not without opportunity. Wells is constructive on broadlines and food service, notes that fiscal and tariff-related trade activity is already underway, and believes earnings momentum can carry through the first half of EPS revisions. At the same time, it flags a more challenging backdrop for f
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
President Donald Trump and White House leaders say that American workers are winning because of his immigration crackdown. But the data doesn’t back that up.
Since the summer, Trump officials have been trumpeting the idea that job creation is booming for U.S.-born workers. Trump said so, too, during a prime-time address last month aimed at ****** uaging Americans’ concerns about the economy.
Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.
“In the year before my election, all net creation of jobs was going to foreign migrants. Si
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
When the internal propaganda collapses, regimes soon follow

https://www.telegraph.co.u...
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
US stocks mostly edged higher on Friday as Wall Street kicked off trading in 2026 after its third consecutive year of double-digit percentage gains.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) gained about 0.6%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) increased 0.2%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell below the flat line, despite gains in semiconductor giants Nvidia (NVDA), AMD (AMD), and Micron (MU).
Shares of Tesla (TSLA) fell after the EV maker's deliveries missed expectations.
Markets are coming off a sputtering end to a roller-coaster 2025 that nevertheless ended with sizable gains for the ma
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
The K-shaped economy has returned, with gaps widening between high and low-income Americans.
Higher earners see steadier opportunities, while lower-income households face cooler prospects.
Some economists are warning that this uneven growth could threaten economic stability in 2026.
The post-pandemic era marked by growing wages and opportunities for lower-income Americans has flipped around.
The K-shaped economy is back, and it could mean more trouble in 2026.

https://finance.yahoo.com/...
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Iran has been rocked this week by protests that started in Tehran and have spread to other cities, with at least six people killed in clashes with security forces.
Official media has largely played down the protests but videos have flooded social media, many of which are difficult to authenticate, or have even been manipulated.
Here is a recap of what we know and what ***** ysts think it all means.
- What's going on? -
The protests began on Sunday in Tehran, where some shopkeepers went on strike over high prices and economic stagnation.

https://www.yahoo.com/news...
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
A new year invites reflection and resolve. As Monroe County enters 2026, we do so with momentum and a clear understanding of what it takes to compete in a rapidly changing economy. Looking into the rearview mirror of 2025, hindsight offers perspective that sharpens our focus and guides the choices shaping our economic future.
Over the past several years, the Bloomington Economic Development Corp. (BEDC) has remained focused on the fundamentals of long-term growth: business attraction, business expansion, and community readiness. Since 2021, these efforts have helped catalyze more than $1 bill
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
While President Donald Trump has said that Americans should see $2,000 checks for the government in mid 2026, it might depend on Congress.
On Dec. 21, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said that tariff dividend checks will need congressional approval.
“Congress is going to have to send those money to those peoples," Hassett said on CBS News' "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” "This would have to be money that would be an appropriation."
However, he voiced optimism over the plan.
"But the thing we can say is that since July, we've had a lot of positive news about the economy,
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
The U.S. market has been dominated by tech and growth stocks for the past three years.
As parts of the economy show signs of slowing, a rotation from growth to value stocks may be in the cards.
Investing in value now means capturing attractive opportunities in financials, healthcare, and industrials.
10 stocks we like better than Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Mega Cap Value ETF ›
It's no secret that the market has been dominated by tech, growth, and the "Magnificent Seven" stocks over the past few years. The earnings and GDP growth backdrops are certainly there that could help propel this
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is undergoing significant changes to meet the increase passenger demand.
One of the key upgrades is the expansion of Park Economy 3 lot, which will grow from 3,800 ******* es to 11,000 by the end of 2026. The new lot will feature solar-paneled canopies and an amenity building complete with restrooms and refreshments.
In effect Jan. 2, Economy 4 is closed to the public, becoming employee-only parking.
John Brantley Boulevard, the horseshoe-shaped road connecting RDU's terminals, is being revamped. Renderings show a new bridge at Terminal Two and a r
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Donald Trump's return to the White House in 2025 marked a stunning political comeback, with the US president pushing an aggressive MAGA policy from trade to international relations. While the US leader has shaped the events of a turbulent 2025, the new year may prove harder to manage for Trump as the midterm elections approach.
For Europeans, that is one factor to watch after a difficult year in which the future of the transatlantic relation, the bedrock of economic prosperity and security for the continent since the end of the Cold War, came under scrutiny as MAGA went after the EU.
Declini
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
US stock futures rose early Friday as Wall Street kicked off trading in 2026 after its third consecutive year of double-digit percentage gains.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) climbed 0.3%. Futures tied to the S&P 500 (ES=F) were up 0.6%, while those on the tech-heavy Nasdaq (NQ=F) gained 1%.
Nasdaq 100 futures gained following news out of Asia that lifted a regional tech gauge to an all-time high.
Markets are coming off a sputtering end to a roller-coaster 2025 that nevertheless ended with sizable gains for the major indexes. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose over 16%, while t
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
The S&P 500 advanced 16% in 2025, notching double-digit gains for the third straight year.
Federal Reserve research suggests President Trump's tariffs will slow economic growth.
The S&P 500 trades at the most expensive valuation since the dot-com crash in 2000.
10 stocks we like better than S&P 500 Index ›
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) added 16% in 2025, marking the third consecutive year in which the benchmark index has recorded double-digit gains. Unfortunately, investors have reason to think 2026 will more challenging. Evidence suggests President Trump's tariffs are hurting the economy,
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Widening demonstrations sparked by Iran’s ailing economy spread Thursday into the Islamic Republic’s rural provinces, with at least seven people being killed in the first fatalities reported among security forces and protesters, authorities said.
The deaths may mark the start of a heavier-handed response by Iran’s theocracy over the demonstrations, which have slowed in the capital, Tehran, but expanded elsewhere. The fatalities, two on Wednesday and five on Thursday, occurred in four cities, largely home to Iran’s Lur ethnic group.
The protests have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, whe
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Widening demonstrations sparked by Iran's ailing economy spread Thursday into the Islamic Republic's rural provinces, with at least seven people being killed in the first fatalities reported among security forces and protesters, authorities said.
The deaths may mark the start of a heavier-handed response by Iran’s theocracy over the demonstrations, which have slowed in the capital, Tehran, but expanded elsewhere. The fatalities, two on Wednesday and five on Thursday, occurred in four cities, largely home to Iran’s Lur ethnic group.
Other WRAL Top Stories
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
The widening protests in Iran over the country’s worsening economy escalated Thursday, with demonstrators clashing with police in multiple provinces, leaving several people dead.
At least three protesters were killed and 17 others wounded during an attack on a police station in Iran’s western province of Lorestan, the semiofficial Fars News Agency reported.
The clashes between activists and security forces have intensified since the protests kicked off over the weekend, triggered by degrading economic hardships, currency devaluation and poor living conditions.
The recent demonstrations are
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expect the market to rise 9% on average next year.
Economic fundamentals are solid going into the new year, which should support higher stock prices.
Corporate profits are expected to rise by double-digits year over year.
These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires ›
It's almost an understatement to say that it has been a fantastic three-year stretch for U.S. stocks.

https://finance.yahoo.com/...
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
(AKA the unemployment rate, cost of eggs, gas prices, inflation, the Dow Jones, whether citizens received a stimulus check, and Trump's overall approval rating.)
It wasn't exactly convincing, considering Americans are facing massive insurance hikes in 2026 because Trump and his party recently chose to allow Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire in two weeks. Likewise, our pockets are shrinking as the cost of food and living bloat.
Related: Trump Bragged About His Giant Ballroom Again, And People Did Not Wait To Roast Him
Note: Data on inflation is released a few weeks after each month has
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
January 1, 2026 / 2:00 PM EST / CBS/AP
Widening demonstrations sparked by Iran's ailing economy spread Thursday into the Islamic Republic's rural provinces, with at least six people being killed in the first fatalities reported among security forces and protesters, authorities said.
The deaths may mark the start of a heavier-handed response by Iran's theocracy over the demonstrations, which have slowed in the capital, Tehran, but expanded elsewhere. The fatalities, one on Wednesday and five on Thursday, occurred in three cities predominantly home to Iran's Lur ethnic group.
The protests hav
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
At least six people have been killed in widening protests against Iran's worsening economy, authorities said on Thursday, as demonstrations spread outside major cities into rural provinces.
The protests have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations.
However, the demonstrations have yet to be countrywide and have not been as intense as those surrounding the death of Amini, who was detained over allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly.
The most-intense violence appeared to strike Azna, a city in Iran
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
Widening demonstrations sparked by Iran’s ailing economy have spread into the Islamic Republic’s rural provinces, with at least three people being killed in the first fatalities reported among security forces and protesters, authorities said.
The deaths may mark the start of a heavier-handed response by Iran’s theocracy over the demonstrations, which have slowed in the capital, Tehran, but expanded elsewhere.
The fatalities, one on Wednesday and two on Thursday, occurred in two cities predominantly home to Iran’s Lur ethnic group.
The protests have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, whe
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
In New York City, the typical household spends more than half of its income on rent and 100,000 people sleep in homeless shelters every night.
“This is what a full-blown affordability crisis looks like,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine in a December report. Median rents in Manhattan have topped $5,400 a month.
The city’s cost-of-living crisis extends to food, child care and other parts of daily life: 1.4 million people, or 15% of the city’s population, is food insecure. A family must earn $334,000 to afford child care for a 2-year old, according to US Census Bureau data.
Zohran
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
The new year will bring big changes at the Federal Reserve, with major implications for borrowing costs, the housing market, and the overall economy.
In addition to major upcoming personnel changes, Fed policymakers have signaled that further rate cuts are unlikely until the spring. That sets up a renewed showdown with President Donald Trump, who has made clear his desire for dramatically lower interest rates.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell's term will expire in May, and Trump is expected to announce his nominee to fill the role in early January after narrowing the list to a handful of finalists.
GreatAmerica
1 month ago
The most potent attack ad of Donald Trump’s comeback campaign seemingly ran on a loop during the final weeks before the 2024 election. ***** ailing rights for transgender people, its punch line indeed delivered a punch: “Kamala Harris is for they/them. President Trump is for you.”
2025: Promise broken. Back in office, the president has shown that the only ***** ouns he really recognizes are the first-person kind: me, myself and I.
A year into Trump 2.0, those self-regarding ***** ouns are now firmly affixed as the bywords of his presidency, on matters major and mundane. They might as well be