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Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:20:00 +0000 ASML Rises On Upgraded Outlook As Capacity Expansion Signals Robust Chip Demand
ASML Rises On Upgraded Outlook As Capacity Expansion Signals Robust Chip Demand
Technology stocks moved higher early Wednesday after ASML Holding delivered strong earnings and raised its full-year guidance, providing fresh evidence
Read more.....
ASML Rises On Upgraded Outlook As Capacity Expansion Signals Robust Chip Demand
Technology stocks moved higher early Wednesday after ASML Holding delivered strong earnings and raised its full-year guidance, providing fresh evidence that demand for the advanced chips and manufacturing equipment powering the AI boom remains intact.
Nasdaq 100 futures gained about 40bps, while ASML shares rose 4% in Amsterdam after the company lifted its annual sales forecast for the second time this year. SK Hynix surged 8.8% in Seoul as the memory-chip maker's locally listed shares caught up with its US-listed ADRs, which soared 27% on Tuesday.
Focusing on ASML earnings, the company now expects annual revenue of 43 billion euros to 45 billion euros, well above its previous guidance and the Bloomberg Consensus estimate of 39.3 billion euros.
Second-quarter sales and profit also beat the Bloomberg Consensus estimate, while ASML lifted its full-year gross-margin forecast to as much as 56%, exceeding the 52.5% estimate.
ASML shares are up 4% in Amsterdam. Year-to-date, shares have risen 75%, continuing a powerful uptrend and maintaining the up-and-to-the-right pattern since mid-2025.
ASML plans to increase capacity for its low-NA extreme ultraviolet lithography machines by about 30% in 2027 and is considering another 30% expansion in 2028. CEO Christophe Fouquet said customers are increasing capital-spending plans, creating demand for more machines beginning this year.
Here's a snapshot of the full-year forecast (courtesy of Bloomberg):
Sees net sales EU43 billion to EU45 billion, saw EU36 billion to EU40 billion, estimate EU39.3 billion (Bloomberg Consensus)
Sees gross margin 54% to 56%, saw 51% to 53%, estimate 52.5%
Third quarter forecast:
Sees net sales EU11.0 billion to EU12.0 billion, estimate EU10.27 billion
Sees gross margin 55% to 57%, estimate 52.5%
Sees R&D expenses about EU1.2 billion
Results suggest that ASML customers, including TSMC, Samsung and SK Hynix, are expanding production, while Intel has begun using the company's most advanced High-NA system. ASML expects a surge in demand from Elon Musk's proposed Terafab chipmaking project.
Here is Goldman analysts' first take on the ASML earnings, very positive:
ASML: Q2 beat, FY26 guidance was raised, and — more importantly — management gave stronger color on 2027 and 2028
Low-NA EUV capacity, directly addressing the key investor debate. Q2 sales of €9.3bn beat consensus of €8.9bn and came in above the top end of guidance.
Gross margin of 54.0% was also well ahead of the 51–52% guide and 51.7% consensus. Q3 guidance was materially better than expected, with sales of €11–12bn — around 11% above VA consensus at the midpoint — and gross margin of 55–57%, implying Q3 EBIT is roughly 26% above VA consensus.
The most important takeaway is that management addressed the core investor question on AI-driven EUV capacity . ASML said AI demand is accelerating customer capacity plans, order intake was "extremely strong," and it now plans to add 30% to 2026 Low-NA EUV capacity of c.65 tools for 2027, taking capacity to roughly 85 tools.
Other commentary from Wall Street (courtesy of Bloomberg):
Barclays (overweight)
“We think ASML has given a lot of what investors were looking for," says analyst Simon Coles
Says its guidance for low-NA EUV capacity for 2027 and 2028 should reduce investor debate on whether the firm is supply constrained
Low-NA EUV bookings in 1H could be as much as €22b, reaching record levels
JPMorgan (overweight)
The 2028 capacity guidance implies more than €65 in EPS for 2028, potentially enhanced even more so by the very strong installed base management revenue, says analyst Sandeep Deshpande
The company isn't guiding to 90 EUV tools for 2027, but "we don't believe this should matter" given the much stronger-than- expected guidance for EUV and DUV capacity for 2028
Jefferies (hold)
The company's outlook comments are mixed, with the strong increase in installed base management sales and gross margins being especially positive, while the 2027 EUV guide is underwhelming, says analyst Janardan Menon
Says 2027 low-NA EUV capacity guidance is below market expectations that have climbed sharply recently
Morgan Stanley (overweight)
Despite no longer reporting bookings, the company talked of very strong order intake continuing across 1H, and customers looking to accelerate capacity expansions, says analyst Lee Simpson
That suggests strong sales momentum into FY27
Oddo BHF (outperform)
Estimates should go up materially, probably in the range of 20%
China exposure remains at around 20% of 2026 sales but is now on a materially higher revenue base, with incremental demand coming primarily from logic
"ASML remains a story of unrivaled tech dominance and now benefits from a fundamentally different cycle driven by AI"
Stephan Kemper, chief investment strategist at BNP Paribas Wealth Management, noted, "As such, company fundamentals matter more than ever."
But more importantly, read our latest note on hyperscaler stress titled "Carnage" In The Hyperscaler Bond Market: Did Goldman Just Pop The AI Debt Bubble ...
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 07:20 Close
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 10:55:00 +0000 US Gov't Set To Expose Far-Left Radicalization Pipeline Leading Back To Communist Cuba
US Gov't Set To Expose Far-Left Radicalization Pipeline Leading Back To Communist Cuba
Watching the Democratic Socialists of America tighten their grip on the Democratic Party while far-left activists grow louder and bolder in their
Read more.....
US Gov't Set To Expose Far-Left Radicalization Pipeline Leading Back To Communist Cuba
Watching the Democratic Socialists of America tighten their grip on the Democratic Party while far-left activists grow louder and bolder in their calls for revolution, "killing capitalists ," and destroying the U.S. "from within" set off alarm bells.
Even the left-wing outlet The Atlantic acknowledged the troubling rise of "left-wing terrorism" following a wave of riots, political violence, assassinations and attempted assassinations, foiled terror plots, and firebombings targeting private companies.
That raised an important question: Are these efforts by far-left activist networks and NGOs to sow chaos organic, or are they part of, or linked to, foreign subversion networks that are helping fuel the unrest?
That prompted us in December 2025 to ask this question: "Is There a 'Cuba Connection' Behind the Radicalization of America's Nonprofit Left?"
Six and a half months later, a State Department official speaking to Breitbart News appears to be answering the very question we raised months ago.
"The State Department will be issuing a report detailing the Cuban regime's longstanding campaign to foment left-wing extremism in the United States and internationally," the official said, adding, "The report finds that for nearly seven decades, the Cuban regime has played an indispensable role in nearly every notable far-left insurgency, revolution, and militant movement across the Western Hemisphere and beyond."
At the time we raised the question, we explained that the National Network on Cuba (NNOC) is a deliberately loose coalition linking 77 activist organizations, NGOs, and political campaigns while minimizing legal exposure and obscuring clear command structures. The network was also linked to the now-sanctioned Cuban organization known as the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, or ICAP. ICAP is a Castro-era organization used to spread Marxist ideology abroad.
Think of the NNOC as a potential pathway through which foreign subversion operations could infiltrate U.S. NGOs, with ICAP sitting at the center. Notice that the DSA is listed as a member organization of NNOC.
ICAP functions as the intake valve - political cover for intelligence operations designed to cultivate long-term assets rather than short-term spies.
The DSA is also a stated partner of the sanctioned ICAP.
Should only now make sense why DSA leaders are promoting "destroying America from within," and the way to do it appears to be through subversion networks empowering overeducated useful liberal idiots.
Just days ago, independent Cuban news outlet ADN Cuba revealed that a US-based Cuba solidarity coalition was giving orders to their far-left revolutionaries embedded within the US to prepare rapid-response protests at US federal buildings, military bases, recruitment centers, and ICE facilities in the event of a military confrontation between the US military and the communist regime in Havana. As we've seen before, these protests tend to turn into riots, especially at ICE facilities.
On Monday...
Related:
Meanwhile....
All of this comes ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's planned meeting Thursday with delegations from more than 70 countries to address what the State Department describes as "the resurgence of transnational far-left terrorism," suggesting the Trump administration is preparing to treat these networks as a coordinated international security threat rather than a series of isolated domestic movements.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 06:55 Close
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 10:30:00 +0000 Can Britain's Next Prime Minister Escape The Net-Zero Trap?
Can Britain's Next Prime Minister Escape The Net-Zero Trap?
Can Britain's Next Prime Minister Escape The Net-Zero Trap?
Authored by Diana Furchtgott-Roth via Civitas Outlook ,
Andy Burnham has a chance to restore sanity to British politics by choosing domestic production over Chinese renewables.
Britain is suffering from disruptions in both weather and politics as a heat wave grips a country where only four percent of homes have air conditioning. Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as Labour Prime Minister, and former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, elected earlier this month as MP from Makerfield, is slated to replace him.
Since former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May signed Britain up to the amended Climate Change Act in 2019, a binding law requiring a 100 percent reduction in emissions by 2050 compared to 1990 levels , Britain has had five Prime Ministers. This outpaces Italy, which has had three, long the byword for political instability in the Western world.
After Mrs. May herself, Britain cycled through Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and now Sir Keir—none of them popular, none of them successful, all of them departing under economic pressure and in failure. This general dissatisfaction is not a coincidence, but linked to higher energy prices, which reduce growth and employment.
But today’s disruptions could be useful if Sir Keir’s resignation opened a window for Britain to reset its energy policy. Mr. Burnham, dubbed the King of the North, has already signaled that he wants affordable power and British jobs, especially in Britain’s north.
In his victory speech after winning his return to Parliament, Mr. Burnham declared:
“We do need to bring down water bills, energy bills, rail fares, just as we brought down bus fares in Greater Manchester, to make life more affordable for people.”
If he means it, energy is the place to start.
Britain pays 42 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity. Germany, Europe’s other great champion of the green transition, pays 43 cents. The United States, which has no national Net Zero law, pays 20 cents, less than half. Almost every EU country with binding emissions targets pays above 30 cents.
European policy choices have mandated expensive generation, loaded green levies onto bills, and prematurely wound down reliable conventional power. The Brits are paying a Net Zero surcharge on every unit of electricity they consume, every single day, with no measurable effect on global temperatures in 2100. And Britain’s wind and solar dependency funnels money to Chinese state-subsidized manufacturers and workers rather than British ones.
This means slower UK growth. Since the end of 2019, before the pandemic, the United States has recorded total GDP growth of 15.1 percent, compared to just 6 percent for the UK. Forecasts offer little comfort: the OECD projects UK growth of just 0.8 percent in 2026, against 2.3 percent for the United States. Countries with the highest electricity prices are growing the slowest.
And it’s not like Britain is getting top value for its money. Two weeks ago, temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) reduced the efficiency of UK solar panels, and a lack of wind stalled the wind turbines. With electricity demand running at about 36 gigawatts, Britain had to import 20 percent of its electricity from the European Union.
The good news is that Mr. Burnham, with his flexible views, can take a different path.
Britain is not a resource-poor nation forced to depend on foreign suppliers, but a resource-rich nation that has chosen dependency through planning rules, regulatory obstruction, and a Net Zero framework that treats domestic oil and gas production as a moral failing rather than a strategic necessity.
In the short run, Britain could produce more North Sea oil and gas and approve stalled domestic natural gas projects. In the long run, Britain could speed up permitting for nuclear power plants, including new technologies such as floating nuclear reactors in harbors, as proposed by the British company Core Power.
Britain now imports oil and gas from Norway rather than allowing British workers to be well paid to extract them from the same North Sea—and pay taxes on the earnings. While Britain sits on the sidelines, Norway’s Equinor is raising output projections for the Norwegian continental shelf due to technological improvements and rising demand.
Mr. Burnham can move forward with offshore projects in the North Sea and North Atlantic totaling between 157,000 and 162,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day, with combined lifetime recoverable reserves ranging from 560 million to 920 million barrels of oil equivalent. Ithaca Energy’s Cambo project and Adura’s Rosebank and Jackdaw fields are all currently awaiting approval.
Adura estimates that Rosebank and Jackdaw will generate almost $38 billion in gross value added over their lifespans, generate almost $2 billion in tax revenues before the end of the current Parliament in 2029, and support 3,500 jobs.
In addition, the Gainsborough Trough , a major sedimentary basin between Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire, holds about 16 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas, equivalent to 2,750 million barrels of oil. With hydrofracturing, it could power Britain for ten years and create a quarter of a million jobs. Egdon Resources has long wanted to develop it, and no government funds would be needed.
Using these domestic resources would create well-paying jobs in northern communities that have seen manufacturing and mining decline over decades—precisely the area that Mr. Burnham wants to win from Reform.
To achieve Mr. Burnham’s desired growth, the government must remove the planning restrictions, the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, and the regulatory framework that makes hydrocarbon investment impossible. Mr. Burnham needs to say plainly that Britain’s growth matters more than the approval of green lobbying groups.
The question is whether Mr. Burnham will move Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband to the coveted position of Chancellor of the Exchequer. Miliband has been the defining force in Sir Keir’s Cabinet against developing a realistic energy policy.
Mr. Miliband now presides over the planning regime that blocks hydrocarbon development, and it is his ideology, the belief that Britain can lead the world to Net Zero by making itself dependent on foreign energy while foreigners burn their own, that keeps British electricity rates among the highest in the world.
If Mr. Miliband were promoted to Chancellor of the Exchequer, he would oversee balancing the budget, or at least minimizing the deficit, and he might see energy production in an entirely different light. As current Chancellor Rachel Reeves has discovered, raising taxes and taking away senior citizens’ winter fuel credits are unpopular options (and may cost her her position).
Unfortunately, Mr. Burnham has floated the idea of nationalizing energy companies and other public infrastructure, even though money would have to be borrowed, taxed, or diverted from other priorities. Public ownership of expensive infrastructure would not achieve Mr. Burnham’s objective of lowering prices. The history of state-owned enterprises in Britain, reversed by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, is a history of inefficiency, underinvestment, and costs ultimately borne by taxpayers. What Mr. Burnham needs is private investment in cheap domestic production.
Energy is foundational to economic growth and to the costs of manufacturing, transportation, heating, and food production and storage. When governments require shifts from cheaper to more expensive energy options (such as from fossil fuels to more expensive renewables), they raise energy costs across the entire economy. Higher energy costs result in higher prices for goods and services, squeezing household budgets and eroding real wages.
Businesses facing higher power bills invest less, hire fewer workers, and, in some cases, relocate to cheaper jurisdictions abroad. The result is an economy that grows more slowly than it should, generates fewer job opportunities than it could, and delivers lower living standards than voters expect. People pay more for electricity and gas, groceries, and gasoline. And they take it out on whoever is leading the country. In Britain, this is the Prime Minister.
For years, Britain has turned its back on its own hydrocarbon wealth in pursuit of wind and solar targets that have driven up bills, exported jobs, and left the country dependent on imported LNG priced by global markets. The paradox is glaring: Britain sits atop significant untapped gas reserves yet pays premium prices for fuel shipped from abroad.
The economics are straightforward. North Sea drilling and domestic gas development are cheaper than the combined cost of offshore wind, grid expansion, and the battery storage needed to cover the days the wind doesn’t blow. Every pound spent on domestic production is a pound that stays in Britain, is taxed in Britain, and is employed in Britain rather than enriching foreign exporters.
Burnham says he wants to be the voice of the North. Here is his chance to prove it. An energy policy built around private investment in domestic production, lower bills, and British jobs recognizes that the transition must work for working people, not just for the investment banks financing wind farms.
Reform is siphoning off votes from both Labour and the Conservatives because it speaks to the cost of living in terms voters recognize. Mr. Burnham can occupy that ground without abandoning Labour’s broader commitments, simply by insisting that British energy for British homes comes before imported energy at any price.
Partly due to the costs of its Net Zero laws, Britain has burned through five Prime Ministers and is paying some of the highest electricity prices in the world. The King of the North has a chance to change that if he chooses a different path.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 06:30 Close
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:45:00 +0000 US Restricts Direct Return Of US Citizens From Congo Over Ebola Outbreak
US Restricts Direct Return Of US Citizens From Congo Over Ebola Outbreak
Non-citizens had already been prohibited from entering the United States within 21 days of being in Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, and now, the Trump
Read more.....
US Restricts Direct Return Of US Citizens From Congo Over Ebola Outbreak
Non-citizens had already been prohibited from entering the United States within 21 days of being in Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, and now, the Trump administration has begun using federal authority to bar U.S. citizens who have been in Congo from entering the United States until they spend at least three weeks in another country, an official said on July 14.
The administration on Monday started using authorities under a transportation statute called Title 49 to place U.S. citizens who have been in Congo on a “do-not-board” list for commercial flights heading to America, an official told The Epoch Times in an email on condition of anonymity.
Americans who are in Congo or have recently been there “will only be allowed to board a commercial flight to the United States if they have spent at least 21 days outside of the” central African country, the official said.
As Zachary Steiber reports for The Epoch Times , around 24 Americans had been set to board flights to the United States after having been in Congo before the prohibition began.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, states on its website that American citizens may enter the United States even if they have recently been in Congo or nearby countries.
In a May order, the administration began requiring non-citizens who have recently been in Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan to spend 21 days outside those countries before entering the United States.
The new restrictions are based on an updated order from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that “highlights the new risk patterns” emerging in Congo for Ebola , the administration official said. That updated order has not been made public but will be in effect for 30 days, according to the CDC’s website.
The State Department will assist those people during the new 21-day waiting period, the official said. The State Department and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The State Department on July 11 told Americans not to travel to Congo for any reason because of the Ebola outbreak, which as of was up to 1,926 confirmed cases, 702 deaths, and 318 recoveries.
Two Americans have tested positive after working in Congo. One, working with the nonprofit Serge, was transported to a hospital in Berlin for treatment and later discharged. Another person who recently tested positive for Ebola works for Samaritan’s Purse, an aid group, the organization’s CEO Franklin Graham told The Epoch Times. That individual was also flown to a hospital in Germany for treatment.
Health workers and local volunteers carry disinfectant containers and sanitation equipment outside the General Referral Hospital in Mongbwalu, Congo, on May 21, 2026. Michel Lunanga/Getty Images
Many Americans in Congo are working with non-governmental organizations or are there on international business, the administration official said. A smaller subset of Americans is in Congo on their own, according to the Trump administration.
The CDC will provide medical assessments for Americans in Congo “and elsewhere,” the official said.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 05:45 Close
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:15:00 +0000 IRGC Vows 'Not A Drop Of Oil & Gas Will Be Exported' From Region Amid Sustained Cross-Gulf Fighting
IRGC Vows 'Not A Drop Of Oil & Gas Will Be Exported' From Region Amid Sustained Cross-Gulf Fighting
Summary:
Iran-US fighting is sustained but in tit-for-tat pace , with new reported strikes across the
Read more.....
IRGC Vows 'Not A Drop Of Oil & Gas Will Be Exported' From Region Amid Sustained Cross-Gulf Fighting
Summary:
Iran-US fighting is sustained but in tit-for-tat pace , with new reported strikes across the Gulf.
Trump declares FULL blockade on Iranian ports , while IRGC asserts 'wartime control' of Hormuz .
Trump drops 20% transit fee plan ; oil prices ease.
Multiple tanker attacks over past day again disrupt shipping & cause casualties.
Regional conflict expands with reported Houthi missiles on Saudi Arabia .
Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by August 31?
Yes 12% · No 89%View full market & trade on Polymarket * * *
IRGC: Iran to 'Control Entire Strait in Wartime'
Amid ongoing cross-Gulf attacks today between Iranian and US forces, the IRGC says they targeted enemy weapons and parts storages in Bahrain and Kuwait. This after the US appeared to attack some critical Iranian infrastructure on coastal islands.
The IRGC has issued a fresh statement via state media on Tuesday, saying that "as long as the US evil stays in the region, not a drop of oil and gas will be exported from the region." It said further, per the press release:
US aggression will have no result other than delaying the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Targeted drone ramp in Kuwait's Ali Al Salem air base; today's attacks in response to US attacks on Iran.
ABC is meanwhile reporting during the mid-afternoon (US time) that American airstrikes on Iran have been underway for the last couple of course. And yet still, Iran's IRIB has said that the Islamic Republic "must control the entire Hormuz Strait in wartime" .
The region is being plunged back into full-fledged war, also as fighting between the Saudis and Houthis in Yemen appears to be breaking out.
Morning warnings from Tehran late Tuesday: Iran's deputy foreign minister says if the US thinks its military attacks and blockade will force them to request negotiations, it's making a mistake .
Trump Backs Off 20% Fee Plan For Hormuz, Asserts 'FULL Blockade'
It's the return of another TACO Tuesday as President Trump in a lengthy Truth Social missive appears to have reversed his plan to collect a 20% of cargo fee for international vessels wishing to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
"Oil is flowing like never before," he began (except it's not...), before writing, "Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States . Those Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them, and their future." He echoed the same in follow-up with reporters at the White House:
So Gulf allies, and likely officials within his own cabinet, have talked Trump out of the 20% collection scheme idea, which would have likely in the end just shifted leverage back over to Iran, given its own much cheaper passage protocol scheme.
US OIL PARES GAINS, WTI TRADES NEAR $78/BBL
Oil prices decline on the stated reversal in plans:
...amid emerging reports of fresh Iranian attacks on Kuwait:
The battle for Hormuz has ramped up after the United States has undertaken three consecutive nights of major bombing raids against Iranian targets.
All the while President Trump is said to be "very serious" about his plan to impose a 20% toll on cargo transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, a Semafor report says, citing a White House official who says the president has desired such a plan for months. Both warring sides are insisting that it is their side alone which will be 'guardian' over the strait.
AFP/Getty Images
Iran FM Trolls Trump Toll Scheme
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi took some jabs at the proposed US plan soon after Trump unveiled it on Truth Social.
"POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service," Araghchi wrote on X. "20% is of course too much. We will be fair," he added.
Below: ongoing reports that the Houthis are entering the war after Monday missile attacks on the kingdom:
The same day, a clip of Secretary of State Marco Rubio from late June insisting that "no country" can extract tolls went viral. "That's the law. It's an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway," Rubio said.
"That's existing international law. That's the way it is in international waterways all over the world and that's the way we'll expect it'll be here." He added: "I think all the countries in this region would agree."
Meanwhile Iranian sources continue to warn the West, also with dramatic images of tankers exploding:
Gulf Air Defenses Active Night & Morning
German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd says also agrees that charging fees for what is in reality international waters and thus under the control of no single nation "would be fundamentally wrong".
Even amid a relentless bombing campaign, Iranian forces have not shown signs of backing off their enforcement of their navigation protocol.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has on Tuesday newly "targeted and disabled" two supertankers for switching off navigation systems which involved "ignoring warnings and endangering navigation," according to Tasnim .
Al Jazeera reports early Tuesday, "It's been an active night and morning for air defense systems in several countries in this region because of missiles and projectiles fired from Iran."
"This has affected the ship traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Yesterday, we saw the lowest number of ships passing in five weeks ," it continues, adding: "There were only six ships. The day before that, there were 14."
Multiple Tankers Attacked Over Past Day, Casualties
At least three tankers have been struck overnight into Tuesday, with among them :
The tanker Stolt Magnesium has caught ?fire after the “explosion of an unidentified external device” as it was ?sailing in the Arabian Sea off Oman, its ?manager, Stolt Tankers, says.
The incident occurred at 12:40am (20:40 GMT on Monday) and caused a fire in the ?vessel’s engine room, the company said in a statement.
The UAE and Gulf allies have strongly condemned the 'brazen' attacks on international shipping.
Source: CNN
There are growing deaths among seafarers in what's obviously the world's most dangerous and volatile energy transit water way. India has formally summoned Iran's deputy ambassador after an Indian sailor was killed .
According to the UAE defense ministry, the casualty occurred when two Iranian cruise missiles targeted two UAE vessels in the crucial shipping lane, leaving one Indian national dead and eight others wounded .
More latest developments
via Newsquawk...
US President Trump reiterated that Iran has no air force, no navy and no military, while he said they will hit Iran very hard on Monday night and on Tuesday. Trump said they had a deal yesterday and that Iran breaks deals, as well as commented that the MoU was built to test Iran and that Iran didn't honour it. Trump also stated that they will hit 'Pickaxe Mountain' pretty soon and have their eyes on the site all the time, which is a good potential target
US Central Command announced that it conducted and completed a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, with US strikes reported in Bushehr, Bandar Abbas and Bandar Kangan, while explosions were also reported in Iran's Qeshm Island and Kish Island. More recently, there have been reports of explosions have been heard near Bandar Abbas, Bushehr and Choghadak.
Details of US President Trump’s proposed Strait of Hormuz toll plan are still being finalised, according to Semafor, saying Trump is 'very serious about the tolls.
Iran's armed forces have begun targeting US naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz with cruise missiles, Al Mayadeen reported.
Iranian Army Spokesperson said the Strait of Hormuz will not be open with US aggressions and war, SNN reported.
IRGC said it targeted weapons warehouses, satellite communications centres, and US forces' housing building at Bahrain's Juffair base. Iran's army also targeted US military facilities and equipment in Kuwait with drones, as well as targeted a 'hostile' US vessel with cruise missiles, while it was separately reported that a US military base in Jordan was hit by a missile attack and that a missile attack hit an Iranian Kurdish opposition group site east of Iraq's Erbil.
UKMTO received a report that a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile 40NM northeast of Qalhat, Oman. UKMTO reports of an incident 13NM southeast of Lima, Oman, the tanker was reportedly hit by a missile transiting outbound on the southern route
The UAE Defence Ministry reported that two national tankers were targeted by Iranian cruise missiles in the southern Strait of Hormuz, with the incident occurring in Omani territorial waters, although the fires on both tankers were brought under control, and it reserved the right to respond to the escalation.
ADNOC confirmed tankers "Al Bahyah" and "Mombasa B" were hit in the Strait of Hormuz.
Oman’s Foreign Minister said complex talks are under way to make a long-term arrangement to guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 05:15 Close
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 08:15:00 +0000 UK Adopts 'No Gain, No Loss' Tax Treatment For Crypto Lending And Liquidity Pools
UK Adopts 'No Gain, No Loss' Tax Treatment For Crypto Lending And Liquidity Pools
UK Adopts 'No Gain, No Loss' Tax Treatment For Crypto Lending And Liquidity Pools
Authored by Micah Zimmerman via BitcoinMagazine.com,
The United Kingdom’s HM Revenue & Customs will treat certain disposals involving cryptoasset loans and liquidity pools as “no gain, no loss,” deferring Capital Gains Tax until a user makes an economic disposal of the underlying cryptocurrency.
The measure, published Monday, takes effect 6 April 2027 and applies to individuals and trustees who enter cryptoasset loan and liquidity pool arrangements, according to the policy paper.
It amends the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.
The rules cover three scenarios . In a single cryptoasset lending arrangement, a user who acquires or disposes of an interest in exchange for cryptoassets of the same type as those invested will be taxed on a no-gain-no-loss basis.
Borrowing arrangements will treat borrowed cryptoassets as acquired at market value at the time of borrowing, with any collateral disregarded for Capital Gains Tax purposes.
For automated market-making arrangements — liquidity pools operated through smart contracts — a user acquiring an interest in exchange for the same type of cryptoasset is also taxed on a no-gain-no-loss basis. On exit, that treatment holds to the extent the user receives the same quantity first invested. Any difference between what was invested and what is received triggers a gain or a loss.
HMRC said the change aligns tax treatment with the economics of these arrangements, recognizing gains and losses only when a participant makes an economic disposal.
HMRC simplifies DeFi crypto tax rules
The measure addresses problems that arose from HMRC’s own 2022 guidance , which stakeholders said produced disproportionate administrative burdens.
A call for evidence ran from July to August 2022, followed by a consultation between 27 April and 22 June 2023 that sought to align tax with economic substance by not treating crypto used in DeFi lending and liquidity pools as a taxable disposal.
HMRC published a summary of responses at Budget 2025 and set out its approach at that time.
The change is expected to affect about 700,000 individuals who engage in these transactions, according to the paper. HMRC said users will benefit from a framework that is easier to understand.
The current UK regime treats crypto as an investment asset , with selling, swapping, or spending it counting as a disposal for Capital Gains Tax at 18% for basic-rate taxpayers and 24% for higher-rate taxpayers. The new treatment modifies that disposal rule for certain lending and liquidity pool arrangements.
Final costing will be subject to scrutiny by the Office for Budget Responsibility and set out at a future fiscal event. HMRC said the measure is not expected to have any significant macroeconomic impact.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 04:15 Close
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 08:15:00 +0000 Watch: US Military Unleashes Suicide Drone-Boat Swarm On Iranian Submarine Facility
Watch: US Military Unleashes Suicide Drone-Boat Swarm On Iranian Submarine Facility
Three U.S. Navy-backed Saronic Corsair one-way attack sea drones struck Iran's Bandar Abbas Naval Base on Sunday, according to Read more.....
Watch: US Military Unleashes Suicide Drone-Boat Swarm On Iranian Submarine Facility
Three U.S. Navy-backed Saronic Corsair one-way attack sea drones struck Iran's Bandar Abbas Naval Base on Sunday, according to U.S. Central Command .
The operation marks the clearest sign yet that the U.S. military has taken a page directly from Ukraine's maritime warfare playbook , using expendable, autonomous, suicide stealth drone boats to penetrate a heavily defended naval facility - much cheaper than a million-dollar missile.
More broadly, the combat debut of suicide drone boats and AI-enabled loitering munitions shows how technologies once thought to be in the future- perhaps the 2030s - are being pulled forward into the present .
Three weeks into the US-Iran conflict. We briefed readers on the deployment of these suicide drone boats and one-way attack drones that the US military was rapidly deploying.
Read:
Now that autonomous strike drones are being deployed, the next phase is the U.S. military procurement cycle, which means tens of thousands, and potentially hundreds of thousands, of these robots will need to be ordered. We have detailed how readers can position into the "Asymmetric Warfare Boom ." Read more here .
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 04:15 Close
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:30:00 +0000 EU's Russian LNG Imports Hit Record High Ahead Of 2027 Ban
EU's Russian LNG Imports Hit Record High Ahead Of 2027 Ban
EU's Russian LNG Imports Hit Record High Ahead Of 2027 Ban
Authored by Alex Kimani via OilPrice.com,
The European Union imported a record 9.97 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) worth €5.96 billion (~$6.82 billion) from Russia's Yamal LNG facility in the first half of 2026, marking a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2025 as they front-loaded Russian energy supplies ahead of impending phase-out bans.
Kpler data shows that European buyers absorbed over 97% of the Siberian facility's total output during the first half of the year, despite years-long efforts to overcome dependency on Russian energy.
Overall EU imports of Russian LNG increased by 11% Y/Y during the period, while imports of Russian pipeline gas increased 7%Y/Y, according to the data.
Supply bottlenecks in the Middle East, including blockades in the Strait of Hormuz and damage to Qatari infrastructure, forced European buyers to lean heavily on readily available Arctic gas.
The EU's ban on short-term Russian LNG imports went into effect on April 25, 2026, under the REPowerEU Gas Regulation .
However, exemptions built into the regulation have allowed European buyers to maintain or even accelerate their intake of Russian gas before a complete blanket ban takes effect on January 1, 2027.
While LNG faces tighter initial phase-outs, pipeline imports from Russia under short-term legacy contracts were given until June 17, 2026 while long-term pipeline gas remains legally permitted until September 30, 2027.
France, Belgium, and Spain are the largest buyers of LNG from the Yamal facility, while Hungary is the largest buyer of pipeline gas shipments delivered via the TurkStream pipeline.
Meanwhile, Hungary and Slovakia continue to receive Russian crude via the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline as they hold official temporary exemptions from the EU's embargo on Russian seaborne oil.
A Russian airstrike damaged the pipeline in Ukraine, entirely halting oil flows to both nations for nearly three months.
Both were forced to rely on emergency reserves and alternative routes such as Croatia's Adria pipeline during the disruption.
In response, Hungary and Slovakia have agreed to construct a new 127 km pipeline exclusively to transport refined oil products between their respective major refineries.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 03:30 Close
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:45:00 +0000 Where Men Outnumber Women Around The World
Where Men Outnumber Women Around The World
Why do some countries have noticeably more men than women, while others have the opposite pattern?
This map, Read more.....
Where Men Outnumber Women Around The World
Why do some countries have noticeably more men than women, while others have the opposite pattern?
This map, via Visual Capitalist's Jeff Desjardins, shows which countries have male- or female-majority populations using World Population Review data on the number of males per 100 females.
While sex ratios at birth differ only slightly, demographic forces can produce striking imbalances over time.
Countries Where There Are More Men
Of the 233 countries and territories in the dataset, men outnumber women in just 33%.
Rank Country Ratio (Males per 100 females)
1 ???? Qatar 243.7
2 ???? United Arab Emirates 175.0
3 ???? Oman 166.5
4 ???? Bahrain 163.2
5 ???? Maldives 159.8
6 ???? Kuwait 156.5
7 ???? Saudi Arabia 152.0
8 ???? Western Sahara 122.0
9 ???? Seychelles 122.0
10 ???? Palau 116.2
11 ???? Bhutan 114.5
12 ???? Brunei 112.9
13 ???? Northern Mariana Islands 112.7
14 ???? Equatorial Guinea 111.2
15 ???? Greenland 110.2
16 ???? Malaysia 109.5
17 ???? Malta 108.2
18 ???? Singapore 106.8
19 ???? Faroe Islands 106.5
20 ???? India 106.4
21 ???? Jordan 106.0
22 ???? Papua New Guinea 105.5
23 ???? Iceland 105.2
24 ???? Tuvalu 105.0
25 ???? Solomon Islands 104.6
26 ???? Andorra 104.4
27 ???? Marshall Islands 104.4
28 ???? Algeria 104.0
29 ???? China 103.6
30 ???? Nauru 103.5
31 ???? Cape Verde 103.4
32 ???? Libya 103.3
33 ???? Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 103.2
34 ???? Ivory Coast 103.2
35 ???? Iran 103.2
36 ???? Niger 103.1
37 ???? Senegal 103.0
38 ???? Gabon 102.8
39 ???? Yemen 102.7
40 ???? Pakistan 102.5
41 ???? Nigeria 102.5
42 ???? Guam 102.3
43 ???? Afghanistan 102.1
44 ???? French Polynesia 102.0
45 ???? Egypt 101.9
46 ???? Uzbekistan 101.8
47 ???? Vanuatu 101.8
48 ???? Mali 101.8
49 ???? Timor-Leste 101.7
50 ???? Belize 101.7
51 ???? Norway 101.7
52 ???? Sweden 101.6
53 ???? Morocco 101.6
54 ???? Samoa 101.6
55 ???? Cyprus 101.5
56 ???? Luxembourg 101.5
57 ???? American Samoa 101.5
58 ???? Togo 101.4
59 ???? Slovenia 101.4
60 ???? Honduras 101.3
61 ???? Comoros 101.1
62 ???? United States 101.0
63 ???? Iraq 101.0
64 ???? Laos 100.9
65 ???? Indonesia 100.9
66 ???? Micronesia 100.8
67 ???? Cayman Islands 100.7
68 ???? Benin 100.7
69 ???? Chad 100.6
70 ???? Madagascar 100.6
71 ???? Paraguay 100.5
72 ???? Ethiopia 100.4
73 ???? Syria 100.4
74 ???? Somalia 100.3
75 ???? Bolivia 100.3
76 ???? Grenada 100.3
77 ???? Turks and Caicos Islands 100.0
-- ?? Global Average 101.2
Despite the smaller number of male-majority countries, there are roughly 42 million more men than women worldwide.
There are two main reasons for this.
First, the Gulf states are the clearest outliers. Countries such as Qatar, the UAE, Oman, and Kuwait rely heavily on temporary migrant workers employed in construction, energy, and infrastructure, industries dominated by men. Because many of these workers arrive without their families, national gender balances become unusually skewed.
Second, three of the world’s most populous countries , China, India, and the United States, all have more men than women. Although their ratios are less extreme, their large populations magnify the difference.
In India alone, a ratio of 106.3 men per 100 women translates into a male surplus of more than 40 million.
Countries Where There Are More Women
The largest concentration of female-majority countries is found across Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Former Soviet states account for seven of the 12 countries and territories with the lowest ratios of men to women.
Rank Country Ratio (Males per 100 females)
1 ???? Hong Kong 81.7
2 ???? Guadeloupe 82.4
3 ???? Martinique 82.8
4 ???? Moldova 85.1
5 ???? Macau 85.2
6 ???? Saint Martin 85.5
7 ???? Russia 86.4
8 ???? Armenia 86.5
9 ???? Latvia 86.8
10 ???? Ukraine 87.1
11 ???? Belarus 87.2
12 ???? Georgia 87.4
13 ???? Saint Barthelemy 88.5
14 ???? Puerto Rico 88.7
15 ???? Tonga 89.5
16 ???? Aruba 89.5
17 ???? Lithuania 89.6
18 ???? United States Virgin Islands 89.7
19 ???? British Virgin Islands 89.8
20 ???? Serbia 90.0
21 ???? Reunion 90.4
22 ???? El Salvador 90.5
23 ???? Wallis and Futuna 90.5
24 ???? Nepal 90.7
25 ???? Antigua and Barbuda 90.9
26 ???? Portugal 90.9
27 ???? Estonia 91.0
28 ???? Bosnia and Herzegovina 91.0
29 ???? Bahamas 91.1
30 ???? Curacao 91.2
31 ???? Saint Kitts and Nevis 91.4
32 ???? Zimbabwe 91.4
33 ???? Mayotte 92.0
34 ???? Barbados 92.1
35 ???? Niue 92.3
36 ???? Hungary 92.6
37 ???? French Guiana 92.9
38 ???? Central African Republic 92.9
39 ???? Montenegro 92.9
40 ???? Croatia 93.3
41 ???? Sri Lanka 93.7
42 ???? Bulgaria 93.7
43 ???? Poland 93.8
44 ???? Romania 93.9
45 ???? France 94.1
46 ???? Greece 94.1
47 ???? Mexico 94.1
48 ???? Sint Maarten 94.3
49 ???? Uruguay 94.3
50 ???? Anguilla 94.3
51 ???? Mozambique 94.5
52 ???? Thailand 94.5
53 ???? Kiribati 94.7
54 ???? South Africa 94.7
55 ???? Guyana 94.7
56 ???? North Macedonia 94.8
57 ???? Lebanon 94.8
58 ???? Japan 95.1
59 ???? Kazakhstan 95.1
60 ???? Cook Islands 95.2
61 ???? Lesotho 95.2
62 ???? Slovakia 95.3
63 ???? Malawi 95.4
64 ???? Namibia 95.4
65 ???? Bermuda 95.4
66 ???? Rwanda 95.5
67 ???? Monaco 95.7
68 ???? Italy 95.9
69 ???? Vietnam 96.0
70 ???? Tokelau 96.1
71 ???? Cambodia 96.3
72 ???? Azerbaijan 96.3
73 ???? Spain 96.4
74 ???? Mauritania 96.5
75 ???? Falkland Islands 96.6
76 ???? Eswatini 96.6
77 ???? Turkmenistan 96.6
78 ???? Bangladesh 96.7
79 ???? Brazil 96.7
80 ???? South Sudan 96.7
81 ???? San Marino 96.8
82 ???? Tajikistan 96.9
83 ???? Nicaragua 96.9
84 ???? Saint Pierre and Miquelon 97.1
85 ???? Austria 97.1
86 ???? United Kingdom 97.1
87 ???? Saint Lucia 97.1
88 ???? Cuba 97.2
89 ???? Czechia 97.4
90 ???? Jersey 97.4
91 ???? Colombia 97.4
92 ???? New Caledonia 97.4
93 ???? Belgium 97.5
94 ???? Venezuela 97.5
95 ???? Trinidad and Tobago 97.5
96 ???? Germany 97.6
97 ???? Guernsey 97.6
98 ???? Costa Rica 97.6
99 ???? Tunisia 97.6
100 ???? Eritrea 97.6
101 ???? Albania 97.7
102 ???? Taiwan 97.7
103 ???? Kyrgyzstan 97.7
104 ???? Jamaica 97.7
105 ???? Haiti 97.7
106 ???? Guinea-Bissau 97.9
107 ???? Isle of Man 97.9
108 ???? Finland 97.9
109 ???? Ireland 98.0
110 ???? Angola 98.0
111 ???? Zambia 98.1
112 ???? North Korea 98.2
113 ???? Djibouti 98.2
114 ???? Sudan 98.2
115 ???? Guinea 98.2
116 ???? Tanzania 98.4
117 ???? Guatemala 98.4
118 ???? DR Congo 98.5
119 ???? Australia 98.5
120 ???? Palestine 98.5
121 ???? Fiji 98.5
122 ???? Uganda 98.6
123 ???? Canada 98.6
124 ???? Montserrat 98.6
125 ???? Argentina 98.6
126 ???? Sao Tome and Principe 98.7
127 ???? Burundi 98.7
128 ???? Dominican Republic 98.8
129 ???? Kenya 98.8
130 ???? Netherlands 98.8
131 ???? Chile 98.8
132 ???? Switzerland 98.8
133 ???? Denmark 98.9
134 ???? Peru 98.9
135 ???? Liechtenstein 98.9
136 ???? New Zealand 98.9
137 ???? Myanmar 99.0
138 ???? Gibraltar 99.0
139 ???? Gambia 99.2
140 ???? Mongolia 99.2
141 ???? Botswana 99.2
142 ???? Mauritius 99.3
143 ???? Burkina Faso 99.3
144 ???? Israel 99.3
145 ???? Cameroon 99.3
146 ???? Ecuador 99.4
147 ???? South Korea 99.4
148 ???? Dominica 99.5
149 ???? Turkey 99.5
150 ???? Philippines 99.5
151 ???? Sierra Leone 99.5
152 ???? Suriname 99.7
153 ???? Ghana 99.7
154 ???? Liberia 99.8
155 ???? Republic of the Congo 99.9
-- ?? Global Average 101.2
Russia offers one of the region’s most prominent examples. Higher male mortality, shorter male life expectancy, historical wartime losses , and alcohol-related deaths all contribute to its ratio of 86.4 men per 100 women.
Why Sex Ratios Change Over Time
Sex ratios at birth naturally favor boys by a small margin, but populations rarely maintain that balance. Migration, life expectancy , war, public health, and economic opportunity can all reshape a country’s demographic profile over decades.
As these forces evolve, the map represents a snapshot rather than a permanent reality. Countries experiencing rapid immigration, population aging, conflict, or major improvements in healthcare may see their gender balance shift substantially from one generation to the next.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 02:45 Close
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 "Deport Criminals Who Steal Or Kill": Spanish Model Blasts Barcelona's Immigration Crisis
"Deport Criminals Who Steal Or Kill": Spanish Model Blasts Barcelona's Immigration Crisis
"Deport Criminals Who Steal Or Kill": Spanish Model Blasts Barcelona's Immigration Crisis
Via Remix News ,
Influencer and model Jessica Goicoechea has posted a video on her social media channels in which she openly criticizes the insecurity she believes plagues Barcelona and details the personal measures she has taken to protect herself. In the clip, Goicoechea displays several security items she recently bought in Andorra, including 4 bottles of pepper sprays and a taser gun, which she describes as her "new essentials."
The video ends with a direct message: "Now, I can go calmly through Barcelona."
The publication quickly sparked intense debate across social platforms. While some users criticized her for publicly showcasing self-defense weapons, many others - particularly women - expressed support and inquired about where similar products could be purchased. In response, Goicoechea stated that she is receiving "infinite messages" from women seeking ways to protect themselves. She defended her actions by saying that, given the current situation, she believes "if you don't protect yourself, no one will."
Following the video's viral spread, Goicoechea followed up with a written statement. She explained that she had never wanted to enter debates about safety or immigration but felt compelled to speak out because conditions have deteriorated.
"I'm never going to shut up again," she declared. The model described living in fear while walking the streets of Barcelona and highlighted what she called a daily increase in stabbings and shootings that she becomes aware of almost constantly.
In the same statement, Goicoechea emphasized that her concerns are not aimed at immigration in general but specifically at individuals who commit crimes. She pointed to recidivism, impunity, and insufficient controls on people with serious criminal records as the core issues.
"The problem is not where someone comes from, but how they behave," she maintained.
Addressing comments under her video, Goicoechea responded to one follower who linked Barcelona's rising crime to immigration by saying she "100% agrees."
"It all stems from political mistakes, regardless of the party's political color, due to poor immigration planning," read the comment she agreed with.
She later clarified that this agreement applied only to those who engage in criminal activity. She argued that "if you come to steal or kill, I prefer you be deported."
Goicoechea reiterated that her goal is to call for improved street safety and a firmer response to crime. "I believe that demanding safe streets and firm laws against those who come to commit crimes is essential and common sense," she concluded in the statement shared on her profiles.
Her comments arrive amid a series of violent incidents recorded across Catalonia in recent weeks, including approximately thirty firearms-related events, many concentrated in the Barcelona metropolitan area. These have been accompanied by frequent robberies and assaults that continue to affect both local residents and tourists, often generating significant public attention.
Other European models have delivered similar messages about crime concerns in the past, including Polish-American supermodel Joanna Krupa .
Read more here...
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 02:00 Close