There is always a winner in any major global oil crisis. In 1973/74, it was Saudi Arabia and its OPEC brothers who shifted the balance of power in the market away from the previous arrangement dominated by the West's 'Seven Sisters' to the oil producers of the Middle East. After the 2014-2016 Oil Price War, it was the U.S. whose earlier nascent shale oil sector resisted the threat to its very existence from Saudi Arabia and OPEC, reorganising into a meaner, leaner, lower-cost oil production machine. The U.S. was the winner again in the short-lived 2020 Oil Price War, and this, along with all the other major crises mentioned, is ****** ysed in full in my latest book on the global oil markets. The latest rupture in the global oil market order that followed the U.S.'s 'Operation Epic Fury' against Iran that began on 28 February has also produced a clear winner. It is neither the U.S., Saudi Arabia, nor the other OPEC states -- it is China. So, how inclined will Beijing be to heed Washington's newly announced sanctions on Iran ahead of the meeting of its President Xi Jinping with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on 24 September at the White House?
The sanctions in question were announced on 20 August by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who stated they would be "the ‌toughest sanctions in history" on Iran, under the umbrella of 'Economic D-Day' for the country. The direct sanctions on Iran aim for the complete financial isolation and economic shutdown of the regime by cutting off all domestic and international revenue streams. To this end, the U.S. Treasury blacklisted five core sectors of Iran's economy -- Digital ****** ets/Crypto, Technology, Gold, Aviation, and Shipping -- making any business operating within them subject to immediate ****** et freezes. At the same time, all longstanding humanitarian, academic, athletic, and personal remittance exemptions were indefinitely suspended, including a complete ban on non-commercial family money transfers and joint research collaborations. In parallel with this, the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and commercial aviation fleets were put under a strict operational embargo, cutting off access to foreign ports, refuelling, and aircraft spare parts. Immediate ****** et freezes were also levied against procurement networks, cyber warfare units, and business syndicates tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Related: Solar Has Crossed a Critical Economic Tipping Point
In tandem with this, the U.S. Treasury, along with sister organisations, will fully utilise secondary sanctions to force foreign governments and companies to choose between trading with Iran or trading with the U.S., under the umbrella of 'Operation Economic Outcast'. This aims to target the complete financial isolation of Tehran by cutting off its remaining economic lifelines. To that end, the U.S. Treasury has already blacklisted nearly 60 entities, individuals, and vessels, focusing heavily on thir

US stocks closed mixed on Monday as semiconductor stocks fell and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced "Operation Economic Outcast" — a series of expanded sanctions aimed at squeezing Iran.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) declined by about 0.3%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) dropped roughly 0.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose by 0.3% as the lone index in the green after the major indexes posted weekly declines.
Investors rotated out of tech names as semiconductor stocks came under pressure. Sandisk (SNDK), Micron (MU), and other memory chip stocks dropped following a report over the weekend that Nvidia (NVDA) plans to raise prices for some of its AI servers.
Stocks were little changed, however, after Bessent outlined a plan to "sever every economic lifeline" to Iran and isolate the nation. In a press conference on Monday afternoon, Bessent detailed expanded sanctions on Iran and on any country that deals economically with it, stating that countries with ties to the regime will be "removed from the US dollar system."
That raised questions about the US's already tenuous relationship with China, which is the primary buyer of Iranian oil. While Bessent declined to discuss the specifics of individual countries, he emphasized that "no one is above the reach of US sanctions."

#stocks #bessent #semiconductor #Tech

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a press conference to announce new sanctions against Iran in a "sustained financial operation" that the Trump administration is calling "Operation Economic Outcast."

#operation #secretary #economic #outcast

Rainn Wilson is defending Texas Senate candidate James Talarico's Christianity — and taking aim at the Democrat's Republican critics in the process.
The former Office star, 60, said Talarico's brand of faith is "achingly close" to that of Jesus Christ, during the Thursday, August 20 episode of his podcast, Soul Boom, according to a report Fox News Digital published on August 23.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Wilson made the comments alongside New York Times journalist Ezra Klein, and the pair accused Texas GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton and his supporters of hypocrisy for repeatedly attacking Talarico, 37, despite their own "aggressively professed Christianity," the outlet reported.
"Whenever I watch these attacks, I think, 'You all would have hated Jesus Christ,'" Klein, 42, said, as reported by Fox News Digital. "You would have found him to be the most annoying, weepy, worrying about the wrong people — the outsiders, the outcasts."

#christianity

"The Office" star Rainn Wilson insisted Thursday that Texas' Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico was "achingly close" to Jesus' "brand of Christianity" compared to his conservative opponents.
On his "Soul Boom" podcast, Wilson and New York Times journalist Ezra Klein called out what they believed was hypocrisy from Texas GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton and his supporters repeatedly attacking Talarico despite their "aggressively professed Christianity."
"Whenever I watch these attacks, I think, 'You all would have hated Jesus Christ,'" Klein said. "You would have found him to be the most annoying, weepy, worrying about the wrong people — the outsiders, the outcasts…"
Bill Maher Blasts Democratic Party, Says It Is Fine With Religion 'As Long As That Faith Isn't Jewish'
Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico has been criticized for pushing progressive politics under a Christian banner.

#candidate

Lazio have reportedly improved their bid for Andrea Pinamonti as they try to find an agreement with Sassuolo before the transfer deadline.
Although the club's campaign began last Sunday (with a shocking elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Mantova), the Biancocelesti have yet to add a new striker to their ranks, even though Gennaro Gattuso had considered it the main priority of the summer transfer market.
The Aquile were on the cusp of signing Bamba Dieng, who arrived in Rome on Thursday, but the deal collapsed due to a knee issue detected during the medical. As for Mauro Icardi, he wasn't completely sold on the project, preferring to bide his time while waiting for other offers. Therefore, Pinamonti re-emerged as the main target to bolster the attack.
According to Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina, Lazio have raised their offer for Pinamonti, and they're now awaiting a response from Sassuolo. It should be noted that the Italian capital club can only afford to sign the 27-year-old on loan with an option to buy, but since the player's contract with the Neroverdi will expire next June, he would first have to sign a renewal.
Er Faina adds that AC Milan outcast Santiago Gimenez was never a serious option for Lazio. The Mexican is instead a top target for Porto, who are working tirelessly to recruit him.

#sassuolo #italian

Juventus resumed pursuing Emiliano Martinez after Aston Villa came to terms with Parma for Zion Suzuki, but the deal quickly collapsed, and then they reached an agreement for Guglielmo Vicario instead, Fabrizio Romano reports (via SOSFanta).
The Birmingham-based club had shown interest in the **** anese international earlier in the summer. They returned after PSG gave up the chase due to late issues with the commissions. The Premier League club quickly offered Parma the same amount of money.
Juventus tried to take advantage of the turn of events to sign Martinez, who was higher on their shortlist than Vicario. However, Aston Villa didn't reduce their demands, around €15M, despite securing a new goalie. Moreover, the Argentinian star is dealing with a lingering finger injury that might require surgery at some point.
The Bianconeri were always willing to offer at most €6/7M plus add-ons for the veteran. Upon further reflection, they moved on again and formally opened talks with Tottenham. The Italian international wanted to leave, as he's the third-stringer now. The Spurs didn't insist on an obligation to buy, so he's joining on loan with a €10M option. He's returning to Serie A after his performances at Empoli earned him a move to London.
It was worth a shot given the Suzuki U-turn. The fact that Aston Villa are spending big at the position raises more than a few eyebrows about the latter's conditions, and the terms were tough to stomach, given his age. Surely the Spurs outcast doesn't arrive under the best circumstances, as they probed several options while he was just sitting there, but he's still better than Michele Di Gregorio in a perennial funk.

#martinez #suzuki

Inter outcast Davide Frattesi is reportedly on the verge of joining Lazio on a season-long loan. According to Calciomercato, the Italian midfielder is set to sign for the Biancocelesti after the Lega Serie A unblocked his move to the Stadio Olimpico.
Frattesi has been on the fringes at the Giuseppe Meazza over the last two years. However, Inter refused to let him join Atletico Madrid last summer as Cristian Chivu vowed to help the former Sassuolo man reignite his career in Lombardy.
Chivu failed to live up to his pre-season promise, handing the 26-year-old just three Serie A starts in 2025/26. Tired of playing second fiddle to Nicolo Barella, Frattesi requested the transfer at the end of last season, and Inter are about to grant his wish.
Roma and Juventus had been keen on Frattesi, but the player is now one step away from joining Lazio.
Frattesi's contract at Meazza runs out next summer. Therefore, time is not on Inter's side, as they must find a way to cash in on their unsettled star quickly. Allowing him to move to Lazio on loan will reportedly pour around €5 million into the club's coffers.

#frattesi #meazza

Napoli outcast Lorenzo Lucca remains a target for Lazio, who are still keen to sign a centre-forward before the end of the summer.
In recent hours, several reliable sources in Italy confirmed the Biancocelesti's renewed interest in Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi. Claudio Lotito and co. are seemingly negotiating with the Nerazzurri, as well as the player's representative, Giuseppe Riso, whose stable could offer Lazio a solution for their attacking conundrum.
As Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla points out, Riso is also the agent of Andrea Pinamonti and Lorenzo Lucca, two strikers who are on Lazio's shortlist.
After missing out on Franjo Ivanovic (who preferred to join RC Lens), several sources identified Sassuolo's Pinamonti as the Aquile's new primary target. However, Pedulla insists that Lucca remains a viable option, one that the club could revisit in the coming days.
Lucca is a well-travelled Italian striker who stands at an impressive 201 cm. The Moncalieri native enjoyed a positive spell at Udinese between 2023 and 2025, scoring 23 goals in 75 appearances before earning a €30 million move to Napoli last summer.

#lazio #pinamonti

The Cleveland Sirens were officially announced as the newest WNBA team on Tuesday. The new franchise will begin play in 2028.
The new name and logo were revealed during a press event this morning. The name was teased with the slogan "hear the call" and the logo was discovered on the team's website a few minutes before the big reveal. It seems that Cleveland has landed on a name that is both classic and culturally relevant.
The mythical creatures are having a moment thanks to The Odyssey and now they're part of a league experiencing rising popularity and attention. Now they just have to wait two years to start playing basketball. The team will be put together ahead of the 2028 season, starting with an expansion draft.
One of the breakout memes of the summer features Matt Damon screaming. That image comes from Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey." In the scene where Damon is screaming, Odysseus is tied to the mast of his ship hearing the siren song.
Considering the source material for that movie is over 2,000 years old, sirens aren't exactly new. There are siren references in the Harry Potter series. Some of the outcasts in Netflix's "Wednesday" are sirens. There are even sirens in "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants."

#name #damon #logo #years

Manchester United outcast Joshua Zirkzee is reportedly keen to join Juventus this summer, but the Italians must sell first. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Turin giants are facing a race against time to offload unsettled Jonathan David.
David, who joined Juventus on a Bosman deal last summer, endured an underwhelming first season in Serie A. The Canadian striker scored just six goals in 35 league appearances, while it's also worth noting that he fell out of favor with the home crowd at the Allianz Stadium.
Therefore, Juventus have put the former Lille star up for sale. Despite arriving in Turin as one of the most highly rated center-forwards in Europe's top-five leagues, there's currently a shortage of suitors for David, whose future could determine the club's pursuit of Zirkzee.
Meanwhile, Juventus have already signed Jeff Ekhator and are now on the verge of bringing Randal Kolo Muani back to the club, with the latter expected to replace Dusan Vlahovic. However, with Lois Openda gone after a disastrous campaign, Luciano Spalletti is eager to land Zirkzee as well.
The Dutchman made a name for himself at Bologna before earning a big-money move to Man Utd in 2024. Yet, he has never settled in the Premier League. After netting just nine goals in 75 matches for the Red Devils, he has found himself on the fringes at Old Trafford.

#zirkzee #turin #manchester

Fabio Paratici has wasted no time stamping his mark on this Fiorentina squad. He's brought in 5 new players already and more are coming. That's good news: the Viola needed to refresh a stale, ailing group. What I'm interested in, though, is the senior players the new sporting director has sold. No, I don't mean outcasts like Lucas Beltrán and Amir Richardson and Alessandro Bianco. I don't mean unfortunate salary casualty Robin Gosens. No, I mean all the academy-trained talent in the system.
Until the Viola create a B-team, it will lose a crop of academy kids every summer. Most of them never had a chance of breaking through to the first team. For the handful who might have the quality, finding an acceptable path within the club is difficult. The most common outcome is what happened to, say, Eduard Duțu last year: a promising young defender, he ended up on 7 loan deals before leaving Florence for good last year without ever making a senior appearance. Guys like Luca Ranieri—loans to Foggia, Ascoli, SPAL, and Salernitana before breaking through—are the exception. It's rare for to see one of these youngsters take that final step.
Young players matter to fans in a way they don't to the club itself. For fans, every 17-year-old who dribbles a 3rd-tier defender in preseason becomes a future star. That's not just luxurious thinking. We need that fantasy—the academy contains untold riches—because it reinforces two narratives that sustain us, especially through the lean years. First, we get to believe that we know ball and can identify buried talent because that allows us to think of ourselves as knowledgeable, superior, and in control of something over which we actually exert no control. Second, we get to think that Fiorentina is doing something better than other clubs, allowing us to enjoy vicarious success and prove to ourselves that there's a reason to support an organization that constantly falls short.
The other bit is that fans connect with kids they've watched grow up more than they do with senior players brought in on the open market. There are Borja Valero exceptions, of course, but in a vacuum, we'd all prefer an academy product more than a player of equal talent who transferred in. It demonstrates that the club's process is successful. It also provides a connection to the city: every time you see a kid like Tommaso Martinelli post a picture of himself as a child in the Curva Fiesole, it reinforces the depth of feeling the locals have for the club in a way that nothing else can.
Fiorentina has enjoyed unprecedented success at youth level in the Commisso era. Daniele Galloppa led the kids to their first scudetto in 43 years, adding that trophy to 4 Coppe Italia and 2 Supercoppe since the 2019-2020 season. There's been a rich seam of talent at the RBCVPetc, churning out senior internationals (Federico Chiesa, Jan Mlakar, Michael Kayode), promising youngsters (Daniele Ghilardi, Edoardo Pierozzi, Costantino Favasuli) and steady veterans dotting t

Lakers predicted to trade outcast Dalton Knecht for disgruntled $46M ex-Warriors NBA champion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the busiest teams this offseason after four-time NBA champion LeBron James informed the franchise he would not be returning. Since then, Los Angeles has focused on building its roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
The Lakers have nearly exhausted all of their offseason moves, but one significant addition could still be on the way. Los Angeles and Jonathan ****** inga have expressed mutual interest in joining forces.
"There is mutual free agent interest between Jonathan ****** inga and the Lakers, per Jovan Buha. Los Angeles continues to work behind the scenes to secure ****** inga's commitment as their new wing addition," NBA reporter Evan Sidery posted.
The two sides have been working toward a deal for more than a week. However, the Lakers signed young wing Ziaire Williams earlier this week.

Artem Dovbyk's career at Roma is drawing to a close, with the Ukrainian striker set to leave the Stadio Olimpico after two years. According to Calciomercato, Ajax have joined the race to sign the 29-year-old.
Roma dashed out €30.5 million plus €5.5 million in bonuses to secure Dovbyk's services in 2024. He was on fire at Girona, winning La Liga's Golden Boot award in the 2023/24 season, which made the Serie A giants believe he could be an answer to their scoring problems.
However, Dovbyk has never settled into life in Serie A. Last season was disappointing for the robust center-forward, as he made just 14 league appearances and scored three goals. Needless to say, he has fallen out of favor with manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
After being deemed surplus to requirements, he's now preparing to leave Roma. Despite his underwhelming year, the Giallorossi have slapped a €23 million price tag on his shoulders and seem unwilling to budge on their valuation.
With Donyell Malen joining the club on a permanent basis, Roma are keen to offload Dovbyk, especially now that they're pursuing several high-profile targets. In addition to Strasbourg starlet Diego Moreira, they've also set their sights on Chelsea outcast Alejandro Garnacho.

Manchester City are close to completing a big-money signing of Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, a deal that could have significant implications for Inter. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the England international’s move to the Etihad Stadium could help the Nerazzurri kill two birds with one stone.
Valued at around £150 million, Andreson has emerged as one of the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League. Despite Manchester United’s long-standing interest, the 23-year-old is on the verge of joining their city rivals, with medicals expected to take place in the United States.
Anderson’s transfer to Man City would force Forest back into the market, and Inter outcast Davide Frattesi could come to fill the void. Indeed, the Italian star remains one of the Tricky Trees’ top targets. However, they have to sell Anderson before making any move for the former Sassuolo man.
Such a significant cash influx would hand Forest a major financial boost and immediately put them ahead of Napoli and Juventus in the race for Frattesi’s signature. Meanwhile, Inter have finally put their out-of-favor midfielder up for sale after yet another disappointing season.
Frattesi’s transfer to the City Ground would pour around €25 million into Inter’s coffers. Furthermore, it would open **** e for another midfielder amid the club’s pursuit of Liverpool star Curtis Jones, who was close to joining the Nerazzurri in the January transfer window.

For decades, soccer in the United States carried a reputation as a sport many Black children couldn't easily access.
Unlike basketball or football, which are often rooted in schools and local communities, youth soccer increasingly became ***** ociated with expensive club teams, travel leagues and a pay-to-play system that created barriers for many families.
Former U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard said those barriers continue to impact who gets access to the sport.
"With a pay-to-play model," Howard told Blavity, "socioeconomically, we sort of outcast so much of this country."
Yet as the FIFA World Cup unfolds, Black players, supporters, creators and storytellers are more visible throughout the sport than ever before. From African nations competing on soccer's biggest stage to the rise of Black soccer media in the United States, many see this moment as evidence of how Black soccer culture has continued to grow despite longstanding barriers to entry.