Trump Proposes $1.5 Trillion Defense Budget, Setting New High in U.S. Modern History
April 4: U.S. President Donald Trump released an outline of his Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal, calling for a record $1.5 trillion in defense spending—marking a new modern-era high for the U.S.
Under the plan, roughly $1.1 trillion would go to the U.S. Department of Defense, with an additional $350 billion earmarked for critical ammunition buys, defense industrial base expansion, and other initiatives. The budget also funds key military programs like shipbuilding and the "Golden Dome" missile defense system.
The White House notes the proposal would keep overall spending caps in place while cutting roughly $73 billion in non-defense funding—impacting areas such as education and environmental protection. It also includes funding for new entities, including the National Fraud Investigation Agency, led by Vice President JD Vance.
The budget is currently a summary version; full details have not yet been released. The Republican-controlled Congress must finalize deliberations and
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Telegram remains highly popular in Russia and Iran despite restrictions, with VPN usage driving the expansion of "digital resistance."
April 4: Telegram founder Pavel Durov posted to his personal channel, saying that despite ongoing restrictions on Telegram in Russia, figures show 65 million Russian users still use the app daily via VPNs or other workarounds—with over 50 million engaging in regular messaging.
Meanwhile, the Russian government is ramping up its VPN crackdown, but these efforts hit technical hurdles. Reports say recent internet blockades even temporarily knocked out payment systems, sparking a short-lived shift back to cash in some areas.
A similar trend has unfolded in Iran. Since Telegram was banned, officials had hoped to push domestic, regulated messaging apps. Instead, the move has driven a sharp rise in VPN use, leading to widespread "digital bypassing."
Experts note that in heavily regulated spaces, demand for free communication and privacy remains robust among users, as technological workarounds keep evolving. With more developers building VPNs and proxy tools, the cat-and-mouse game ov
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2026 World Cup Introduces Prediction Market, FIFA Signs Deal with ADI Predictstreet
On April 4, FIFA announced a multi-year partnership with ADI Predictstreet to become the official prediction market partner for the 2026 World Cup. This marks FIFA’s first foray into prediction market mechanisms to boost fan engagement.
Under the partnership, fans will be able to use the platform to predict match outcomes, event data, player performances, and key on-field moments. Built on the ADI Chain, the platform will leverage official historical data for analysis and offer free prediction options.
The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with an expanded format featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted the initiative aims to drive global fan participation through innovative methods.
Notably, FIFA opted to partner with the upcoming ADI Predictstreet platform instead of established players like Polymarket or Kalshi. FIFA officials stated the platform will comply with regulatory and compliance frameworks and i
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Trump Slams ABC Reporter and Praises Non-Farm Payrolls Data: Strong Job Performance
April 4: Former President Trump publicly slammed ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, dismissing him as a "third-rate anchor" and his new book as "pure fiction" that severely distorts the facts. He also noted ABC previously paid him $16 million in damages over false, misleading reporting, labeling the network "the worst and most corrupt" in the industry.
Separately, Trump weighed in on March’s U.S. jobs report, citing 178,000 new nonfarm jobs added and a drop in the unemployment rate. Calling the figures "very good data," he noted even government-critical media outlets recognized the strong showing, emphasizing his "Making America Great Again" goal.
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Institution: March Non-farm Payrolls Exceed Expectations, Showing Resilience in the US Employment Market, with Inflation Currently Being the Core Variable of Fed Monetary Policy
April 4: Huatai Securities notes that March’s stronger-than-expected non-farm payrolls rebound signals resilience in the U.S. labor market. However, amid the Middle East conflict, the impact of high oil prices on inflation expectations is more critical for Federal Reserve monetary policy.
Recent escalation in the Middle East has driven a surge in oil prices and inflation expectations—rooted in the Strait of Hormuz blockade—creating an oil supply gap. Inflation remains a key variable in the Fed’s monetary policy decisions.
The Fed’s dual mandate (employment and inflation) gives it maneuvering room, allowing it to avoid rate hikes aimed at taming inflation. But with inflation expectations rising, even if the Fed holds rates steady, the Treasury yield curve could shift upward, leading to substantial practical tightening.
Source: FXStreet
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Cambodia Introduces New Law to Combat Crypto Scams, with Up to 5 Years in Prison and Heavy Fines
April 4 — Cambodia’s Senate has unanimously passed new legislation targeting scam operations, with a focus on cracking down on cross-border cryptocurrency-related fraud. The bill cleared the Senate with 58 votes and is awaiting formal approval from the King.
Under the new law, those involved in organized fraud face 2 to 5 years in prison and a maximum $125,000 fine. Penalties could double for fraud involving organized groups or multiple victims.
The legislation comes amid growing international scrutiny of scam schemes in Southeast Asia. The facilities in question are alleged to be tied to organized crime — including cryptocurrency scams — and serious abuses like forced labor. The U.S. and UK have previously imposed sanctions on related networks, and Cambodia has cooperated in extraditing individuals linked to these cases.
Analysts say the law marks Cambodia’s first use of criminal legislation to directly target cryptocurrency-related fraud infrastructure. But its real-world ef
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