U.S. Congress moves to block Trump from intervening in Israel-Iran war

Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, accused Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei of giving attack orders on Israeli hospitals and announced an escalation of strategic and governmental targets in Iran to remove the threat to Israel.

Khamenei transferred part of his power to the Supreme Corps of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, and the Israeli government emphasized the desire to hold him responsible.

The U.S. Congress has prepared a resolution to prohibit President Donald Trump from interfering in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

The resolution draft was developed jointly by Democrats and Republicans, according to the U.S. Congress website.

Reference Sources

1. polishnews - Israel-Iran. The Minister of Defense of Israel Wprost: Ali Chamenei cannot exist
2. israelnationalnews - Defense Min.: Khamenei will be held accountable, we will destabilize the Ayatollah regime
3. newsukraine - US Congress moves to block Trump from lintervening in Israel-Iran war
4. washingtonpost - Democrats raise war powers concerns as Trump mulls Iran strike
5. euronews - After latest strike on Arak, what damage have Israeli attacks caused to Iran's nuclear programme?

Auto tariffs seen hiking car prices by nearly US$2,000 per vehicle

(Source: Reuters)

Consultancy Alixpartners predicts that car buyers will bear the brunt of the US$30 billion cost of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The firm expects auto companies to pass along 80% of the cost of Trump’s tariffs, driving up already high U.S. auto prices by US$1,760 more per car.

The firm also cautioned that the administration’s anti-electric vehicle policies risk relegating American automakers to bit players in the global EV market.

General Motors and Ford Motor have already said they expect a US$5 billion and US$2.5 billion tariff impact this year, respectively, though they say they will find offsets in part through price adjustments.

Those higher prices will result in about 1 million fewer vehicles sold in the U.S. over the next three years, said Mark Wakefield, global auto market lead at Alixpartners.

But the consultant expects U.S. auto sales to reach 17 million in 2030, 1 million more than last year, as the effect of tariffs abates.

Alixpartners’ predicted sales hit is more muted than some other projections because the firm sees tariff rates falling as the U.S. negotiates trade deals with other countries.

It forecasts the 25% auto tariff will ultimately fall to 7.5% on assembled autos, 5% on parts, and even lower on cars and parts that are compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

Reference Sources

• latimes - Auto tariffs seen hiking car prices by nearly $2,000 per vehicle

Officials recover US$225 million in crypto stolen from Americans through scam targeting hundreds

(Source: Reuters)

The U.S. Justice Department has seized more than US$225 million in cryptocurrency that prosecutors say was stolen from Americans as part of a global scam targeting hundreds, according to the Justice Department. Dozens of Americans and an estimated 400 people worldwide were targeted by so-called “cryptocurrency confidence” scams, where victims are tricked into making fraudulent investments, according to prosecutors.

The FBI and the Secret Service are working to identify the victims and ensure their funds are returned.

These schemes, also referred to as “pig butchering” scams, skyrocketed last year.

The Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint on Wednesday to seize US$225.3M for victims involved in Cryptocurrency scams.

The complaint alleges that the cryptocurrency addresses that held over US$225.3M were part of a sophisticated blockchain-based money laundering network. "A civil forfeiture complaint is the latest action taken by the Department to protect the American public from fraudsters specializing in cryptocurrency-based scams, and it will not be the last," said Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's criminal division. "These schemes harm American victims, costing them billions of dollars every year, and undermine faith in the cryptocurrency ecosystem."

Reference Sources

1. independent - Officials recover $225 million in crypto stolen from Americans through scam targeting hundreds
2. upi - DOJ to seize $225.3 million for victims of crypto scammers
3. justice - United States Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against $225M in Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud Money Laundering
4. cnbc - DOJ seizes record $225 million in crypto tied to global 'pig butchering' scams
5. justice - Head of the Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti, Delivers Remarks in Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud Forfeiture Announcement

The CommonWealth English daily news digest is a service curated by the CommonWealth English team with the help of AI tools

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