Author: kumbhorg

DBS Group Research economist Chua Han Teng highlights that Thailand’s financial markets, particularly the Thai Baht (THB) and equities, are under pressure due to vulnerability to Middle East conflict-related commodity shocks. The report notes that upside inflation risks from the Iran war have likely closed room for further Bank of Thailand (BoT) easing, with markets pricing an unchanged policy rate for at least six months.Baht under pressure as policy constrained”Thailand’s financial markets remain under pressure, with the Thai baht (-5.3%) the worst-performing currency in the ASEAN-6 region month-to-date, while the benchmark equity index also lost ground (-5.8%). The underperformance reflects…

A catchy trib­ute to mid-cen­tu­ry Sovi­et hip­sters popped up a few years back in a song called “Stilya­gi” by lo-fi L.A. hip­sters Puro Instinct. The lyrics tell of a charis­mat­ic dude who impress­es “all the girls in the neigh­bor­hood” with his “mag­ni­tiz­dat” and gui­tar. Wait, his what? His mag­ni­tiz­dat, man! Like samiz­dat, or under­ground press, mag­ni­tiz­dat—from the words for “tape recorder” and “publishing”—kept Sovi­et youth in the know with sur­rep­ti­tious record­ings of pop music. Stilya­gi (a post-war sub­cul­ture that copied its style from Hol­ly­wood movies and Amer­i­can jazz and rock and roll) made and dis­trib­uted con­tra­band music in the Sovi­et…

Jason Duggar & Maddie DuggarThe couple, who married in 2024, said they are “angered” by the “unthinkable” actions of his brother Joseph. “We, like many, have spent the week completely shocked, confused, and grieved to list a few emotions,” Jason and Maddie said in a statement shared on Instagram March 26. “We are disgusted to hear the news about my brother, however, this isn’t about how it’s impacted our lives. Our hearts are burdened because a child’s life has been turned upside down due to evil actions of someone who should have never hurt the vulnerable.” “Maddie and I have always…

It’s wild to think, going into the fifth season of Apple TV’s lush, sorely underrated science fiction series “For All Mankind,” that Ronald D. Moore‘s alt-history saga began with a simple premise: What if the Russians beat us to the Moon by just a few weeks back in the 1960s? In the seasons since, Moore, along with current showrunners Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi, has extrapolated a vastly divergent timeline from that simple fracture, including radical shifts in the political winds (a lesbian POTUS? A moon base by the 1980s? The USSR still standing strong in the 21st century?). Now,…

In the United States, cloud seeding has long been a subject of controversy. The process involves releasing small quantities of compounds such as Silver Iodide (AgI) into the atmosphere, causing clouds to produce rain or snow. Critics call it “weather modification,” but cloud seeding is a moderate and cost-effective effort to enhance rainfall that can benefit the water-strapped Southwest by fortifying its water supply. Although cloud seeding is used regionally, it has faced significant backlash. Skeptics point to health concerns, flooding, and other ethical concerns magnified by conspiracy theories rather than scientific evidence. Yet research shows that the chemical concentrations…

Some off beat reads for the weekend: The Brand Age of Swiss Watches (Paul Graham) Gulf crisis could trigger more reforms in India (FF) China’s Technology Long Game (High Capacity) Interview with Singapore Foreign Minister (Reuters) The Pakistan Q in the Iran war (ForPol) Dubai is a city built on sand (Spectator) Afghanistan-Pakistan war escalates (Crisis) The relentless war on Iraq (MEM) Drones, Denial & the Northeast (FP) Kashmir supports Iran (New Lines) US public opinion is against Israel (Al Majalla) Interview with late Mathematician Purnaprajna Bangere (Bhavana) Philosophy: The Mass Man (FF) Best countries for solo women travellers (BBC…

The New Zealand Cricket Awards 2026, presented by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), recognized the outstanding achievements of cricketers across formats, with Amelia Kerr, Jacob Duffy, and Jess Kerr among the winners.Amelia Kerr clinches fourth consecutive Debbie Hockley MedalAmelia Kerr, New Zealand women’s captain, won the Debbie Hockley Medal for the fourth straight year, recognizing her as the Women’s Cricketer of the Year. Kerr starred in the T20I and ODI series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, earning Player of the Series honors in multiple matches.Debbie Hockley praised her, saying: “Quite simply, we’re talking about a dominant force in every facet of…

Some young, pending RFAs are going to cash in. Who will set the next bar? TSN: There are some big-named pending RFAs from the 2023 draft that will be looking for a big, new deal, but are remaining patient. Teams would have liked to have them signed by now, but the likes of Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, and Adam Fantilli have held off as the market dynamics have shifted. Though he’s from the 2024 draft, are they waiting for Macklin Celebrini to sign an extension first? Chris Johnston: “And what’s interesting of all, Gino, I don’t think those guys would…

Motorists are facing higher fuel prices ahead of Easter break due to the conflict in the Middle East, the RAC says.

As of March 27, 2026, the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index reads 13, placing sentiment in Extreme Fear. The current price of bitcoin is near $66,000. The index spans 0 to 100, with lower readings tied to fear-driven market conditions and higher readings tied to greed-driven conditions. The metric compiles inputs across price volatility, market momentum, trading volume, Bitcoin dominance, social sentiment, and Google Trends activity. The combined dataset forms a sentiment gauge used to track emotional conditions across Bitcoin markets. Readings in the Extreme Fear range have aligned with prior stress phases in BTC market cycles. Bitcoin Magazine Pro…