This European country is supposed to be a non-nuclear state. Yet over the last 3 years, it's been participating in nuclear exercises, operating dual capable arms like this SU25 fighter jet, and providing Russia with a base to store its non-strategic arms. Moscow says it is deploying its nuclear arms in Bellarus through a sharing agreement with Minsk which could alter the balance of power in Europe and threaten global non-prololiferation efforts.Once part of the Soviet Union, Bellarus used to host strategic ...

Meet 34year-old Jongqing. She's at a marriage market in Chongqing, China, looking for a match. So, what's a marriage market.Think of it like a real life dating app, except many participants are retirees looking for spouses for their unmarried adult children. Every Friday and Saturday, hundreds gather in this hilltop park with paper resumes that act like dating profiles. They list basics like age, height, job, and requirements for a partner.Some include details that would rarely be seen on US dating profiles ...

- Yeah. Good morning. Just pocket change.Singles. My name is Ben Tseytlin, I'm the owner of Bullion Exchanges. The past, like three months has been extremely busy.Gold has skyrocketed. All the metals are trending higher. You got a grand total of $9,723.59%.I need your ID - - [Customer] Sure - and we'll get you a check issued shortly. - [Customer] Okay. Thank you.- There's a huge influx of people in the 65 plus range, trying to sell their scrap jewelry. They've been sitting on this stuff for a long time. It' ...

I talked with three borrowers who paid off their student loan debt in under 10 years. Here's how they did it. First up, Lauren Brily.She graduated in 2017 with around $125,000 in student loan debt. She was able to refinance her loans three times to save about $55,000 in interest. And then she started a career coaching side gig that gained her some extra income.She paid off her loans in 7 years. Next up, Christopher Valarriel. He graduated college in 2016 with about $46,000 worth of student loan debt.During ...

Startups are eating big foods lunch. Americans are still spending on packaged snacks, but they're buying less from legacy brands like General Mills and Craft Hinds. Small startups make up less than 2% of the packaged foods market, but they drove more than a third of that whole sector's sales growth in 2024.Take the meatstick, one of the fastest growing products in food. You're probably most familiar with the traditional Slim Gym, but companies like Chomps are taking a bite out of its business. Chomps, which ...

Incident Overview - A residential complex fire in Hong Kong's Wongfuk Court has resulted in a rising death toll, currently at 128, with expectations of further increases [1] - The fire spread rapidly due to the close proximity of the eight towers in the residential complex, sparing only one tower [2] - The incident raises questions about responsibility, particularly regarding the use of bamboo scaffolding, a common construction material in Hong Kong [2][3] Contributing Factors - Flammable construction materials, such as styrofoam, present in stairwells and entryways may have contributed to the severity of the fire [3] - Debris and scaffolding falling from upper floors hindered access to the affected buildings [2] Community Impact - The incident has evoked empathy and support from other Hong Kong residents, many of whom live in similar residential towers [4] - The ultimate cause of the fire is under investigation [4]

Market Position - KFC ranks fourth in US chicken restaurant sales and has experienced consecutive quarters of sales declines [1] - Bone-in fried chicken menu listings in US fast food restaurants have dropped by 72% in the past 4 years [2] - Boneless chicken items in US fast food restaurants are up by 29% in the past 4 years [2] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Raising Canes and Chick-fil-A focus on tenders and fried chicken sandwiches [2] - Fast food giants like McDonald's and Taco Bell have expanded their chicken options [3] KFC's Response - KFC is bringing back old favorites like its original honey barbecue sandwich and potato wedges [3] - KFC is testing Saucy by KFC, a new concept focused on tenders and featuring nearly a dozen sauces [3]

You can hear the shots being fired. It obviously feels very, very real. >> There's people in the window.>> We don't want to get shot. >> So, this may all be an exercise. They may not be firing live rounds, but in these guys' heads, they really are defending their city from an enemy attack.Getting ready to do that in a possible future scenario. the Russian invasion of Ukraine so close. This could be the path that Russia and its ally Barus will take if it ever invaded Lithuania.The Lithuanian Rifleman's Briga ...

Market Trends & Investment Drivers - Demand for gold is surging, recently exceeding $4,000 per troy ounce, driven by uncertainty and a desire for safe-haven assets [1][7] - Investors, particularly the wealthy, are diversifying gold storage locations, shifting away from traditional vaults in London and Geneva towards new hubs like Singapore [1] - Mistrust in governments and concerns about the US dollar's stability are driving investors to store wealth overseas [12] - Investors are choosing physical gold over funds or futures to avoid counterparty risk [13] Singapore as a Secure Storage Hub - Singapore is perceived as a secure location for long-term wealth storage due to its political stability, lack of enemies, and economic policies that discourage nationalization [2][3][4] - Singapore's wealth and reputation are built on client confidence, making nationalizing assets an unlikely and economically suicidal move [3][4] - Singapore is well-defended, making it an ideal location for intergenerational wealth storage with time frames of 20-40 years [4] Vault Security & Capacity - The Reserve's vault, completed in 2024 near Singapore's Changi Airport, includes a chamber capable of storing up to 10,000 tons of silver, worth approximately $16 billion [6] - The vault's foundation extends 32 meters into the ground, with a floor loading capacity 45 times stronger than a car park [7] - The Reserve has the capacity to store up to 500 tons of gold, worth approximately $64 billion, equivalent to roughly 40,000 good delivery bars [10] - The vault meets UL Class 2 gold vault standards, designed to delay intruders for at least one hour [9] Client Base & Motivation - The Reserve's clients traditionally come from Western, English-speaking countries, including Europe, the United States, and Australia, and are often entrepreneurs managing their own wealth [5] - Clients are seeking refuge from political turmoil, shifting economic winds, and potential developments that could impact the value of traditional currencies [11][13] Market Share & Future Growth - Singapore currently handles less than 1% of the daily global gold trading volume, which exceeds $100 billion in London [15] - Singapore, along with Hong Kong and Dubai, possesses the right elements and government support to develop into significant gold hubs [15]

Business Model & Financial Challenges - Sonder's business model, relying on long-term leases rather than owning real estate, led to costs outpacing revenue as the company expanded [5][7] - The company projected nearly $4 billion in revenue by 2025, but faced operational challenges due to leasing apartments and maintaining staff regardless of occupancy [5][7] - Sonder went public via a SPAC, a faster but riskier route, and received $400 million less than expected due to investors cashing out [8][10] - By 2025, Sonder's liabilities exceeded its assets, posting a loss of approximately $100 million in a six-month period [12] Partnership & Collapse - A licensing deal with Marriott International in 2024 aimed to integrate Sonder units into Marriott's booking system [11] - Sonder defaulted on its debts to Marriott, leading to the termination of the partnership in November 2025 [13] - Marriott covered $15 million in losses due to the Sonder partnership [15][16] - Sonder abruptly closed, leaving thousands of guests stranded and directing them to Marriott for assistance [2][14] Industry Implications - Sonder's failure highlights the importance of understanding a company's business model and its ability to achieve long-term profitability [16] - The case demonstrates the risks associated with SPACs and the challenges of maintaining profitability in the short-term rental market [8][9]