Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/silver-crunch-halts-sales-trump-secures-middle-east-peace-canada-jails-holocaust-denier/
Economy
A global shortage of physical silver has reportedly disrupted markets, with premiums in India reaching up to 10% over domestic prices. This has led Kotak Mutual Fund, UTI Mutual Fund, and SBI Mutual Fund to suspend new investments in silver exchange-traded funds due to supply constraints. Australia’s Perth Mint has stopped all sales of silver products, removing a significant source of physical supply. In London, the bullion market is experiencing tightness, with inventories reduced by 75% since 2019 to 200 million ounces, resulting in borrowing costs above 100% annualized and bid-ask spreads expanding to 20 cents per ounce. Traders are reportedly airlifting silver bars from the US to fulfill demand, driven by rising investments amid structural shortages worsened by Indian festive-season purchases and potential US tariffs. Gold prices have exceeded $4,150 per ounce, while silver nears $53, reflecting reported strains in the US dollar and Treasury markets. Some market observers note that while current tightness persists, potential inflows from other regions could ease pressures in the near term, according to commodity reports. A veteran US bullion dealer has suspended silver sales, a step not seen even during the 1980 Hunt brothers market squeeze.
Meanwhile, hedge fund manager Harris Kupperman has raised concerns about a potential AI data center bubble, based on discussions with industry insiders; he initially questioned the financial viability of these facilities and now reports confirmed risks in their economics. Counterviews from industry leaders highlight ongoing efficiency improvements and strong demand as factors supporting sector growth, per financial analyses.
Geopolitics
In a landmark US-brokered peace deal facilitated by President Donald Trump, Hamas released all remaining Israeli hostages—20 alive and four deceased—in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 held without charge, ending two years of conflict. The agreement, finalized after Trump urged Israel to accept a ceasefire without West Bank annexation, leveraged the Abraham Accords and trade incentives to involve Gulf states in Gaza’s reconstruction, while a proposed defense pact with Qatar aims to curb its support for militants. Trump’s strategy included reducing Iranian oil revenues, supporting Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, and backing Israel’s efforts against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi groups to isolate Iran and strengthen Israel’s position. In a Knesset address, Trump declared an end to the “age of terror and death,” commending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the US embassy relocation, and Golan Heights sovereignty for paving the way to peace. However, the deal faced protests in Israel, with critics citing unresolved Palestinian statehood issues and historical challenges to lasting peace, while Trump’s call to pardon Netanyahu amid corruption trials sparked accusations of judicial interference from opposition leaders.
US Politics
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1127, the Responsible Gun Manufacturing Act, which prohibits sales of new Glock-brand pistols and similar clones starting July 1, 2026. The bill targets semiautomatic pistols equipped with cruciform trigger bars that can be modified into machine guns using illegal devices like Glock switches. The legislation is seen by some as challenging Second Amendment precedents established in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), in which the Supreme Court recognized individual rights to commonly used firearms for self-defense. Dissenting justices, including Clarence Thomas, have reportedly criticized lower courts for upholding bans on popular firearms such as AR-15s, which are owned by millions for lawful purposes. Glocks, manufactured in over 500,000 units annually and used by 65% of US law enforcement agencies, would face these restrictions despite their widespread adoption. Supporters of the measure, including gun safety advocates, argue it addresses public safety risks from modifiable weapons without unduly restricting lawful ownership, per statements from advocacy groups. The law builds on prior efforts to prohibit conversion devices and could lead to Supreme Court scrutiny, similar to the court’s recent decisions not to hear cases like Bevis v. City of Naperville.
Health
Smartphones and social media platforms use design elements that reportedly influence brain function and behavior, based on insights from AI developers and psychological research. Notifications are said to trigger dopamine releases akin to variable reward systems in gambling, resulting in users checking devices an average of 96 times daily, according to studies. Research indicates that attention spans have shortened from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds currently, with algorithms designed to increase engagement by prioritizing content that elicits emotional responses such as anger and fear. These elements have been associated with elevated stress hormones, diminished rational thinking, and increased anxiety, as shown in brain imaging and behavioral data from Silicon Valley companies. Former executives from companies including Facebook have reportedly limited their children’s access to such platforms, citing the addictive qualities of features like infinite scrolls and personalized feeds. However, some analyses suggest that while engagement features raise concerns, user management tools and positive connectivity benefits can offset potential harms, according to reports from tech publications and company statements. Upcoming AI developments could amplify these effects, leading to proposals for regulations similar to those applied to addictive substances.
European Politics
The European Commission’s proposed LGBTIQ+ equality strategy for 2026-2030 includes legal gender recognition based on self-determination without age restrictions, allowing children to declare their gender. The strategy reportedly views medical approval requirements as potential human rights violations, in line with European Court of Human Rights rulings, and seeks to promote “best practices” across member states. It would limit therapy for gender dysphoria, potentially deeming approaches like the UK’s provision of talking therapy to children with gender confusion as non-compliant and illegal. Non-adhering states could face funding reductions and sanctions, while critics of the strategy have been described by proponents as spreading “foreign-funded disinformation.” Advocacy groups supporting the strategy argue it aligns with human rights standards to prevent discrimination and support self-determination, as stated by EU officials and rights organizations. Implementation would require approval from national governments, excluding post-Brexit Britain. Advocacy groups have warned that the strategy could affect women’s rights, vulnerable youth, and same-sex attracted individuals by integrating gender ideology into various policies.
Canadian Politics
Kenneth Paulin, a 51-year-old Canadian, was sentenced to nine months in jail and two years of probation in what authorities describe as the country’s first conviction for Holocaust denial. Civil liberties groups have expressed concerns that the ruling could set a precedent impacting free speech protections, as noted in media coverage.
Sources
Your Phone Isn’t Listening—It’s Rewriting Your Brain
Your phone isn’t listening to your conversations. It’s rewriting your brain.
Source | Submitted by 0007
Hedge Fund Manager’s Insider Talks Confirm AI Data Center Bubble Fears
confirms my worst fears about this bubble
Source | Submitted by westcoastjan
Canadian Man Sentenced to Jail in First-Ever Holocaust Denial Conviction
A Canadian man has been sentenced to jail for Holocaust denial.
Source | Submitted by Chris Martenson
Breaking: Veteran US Bullion Dealer Freezes Silver Sales in Unprecedented Market Crisis
A veteran gold-silver bullion dealer in the United States has frozen sales…
Source | Submitted by Chris Martenson
California’s Glock Ban: Sparking the Next Second Amendment Showdown
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed the long-anticipated “Responsible Gun Manufacturing Act,” Assembly Bill 1127, a law that may now trigger a major challenge under the Second Amendment.
Trump’s Tenfold Path to Middle East Calm
What did Donald Trump do differently to obtain at least temporary calm in the Middle East compared to the failed efforts of past administrations, foreign powers, and the United Nations?
Trump Urges Pardon for Netanyahu in Knesset Speech: “Cigars & Champagne? Who the Hell Cares?”
And cigars and Champagne, who the hell cares?
Indian Funds Freeze Silver ETF Inflows Amid Global Physical Shortage
a number of Indian asset managers have halted all new investments into Silver ETFs.
Trump Proclaims End of “Age of Terror & Death” as Hamas Frees All Remaining Israeli Hostages
This is not only the end of a war. This is the end of the age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God.
EU Proposal: No Age Limits on Child Gender Self-ID, Therapy for Dysphoria to Be Banned
“This chilling EU-wide strategy pushes legal gender self-identification for children of any age and a ban on talking therapy for vulnerable children,”
Hamas Ready for Gaza Ceasefire a Year Ago—Netanyahu and Biden Shut It Down: Israeli Insider
“Hamas was ready for a deal to release all of the hostages, not to govern Gaza any longer, and to end the war. But Israel was not prepared to go ahead.”
Global Silver Shortage Confirmed: Perth Mint Suspends All Sales
“Australia’s Perth Mint, trusted worldwide, has fully suspended all sales of silver products.”
Gold Breaks $4,150, Silver Targets $53: The Silver Short Squeeze and Dollar Rug Pull Hurricane Ahead
This is a coming Cat-5 financial hurricane hiding in plain sight.
London’s Silver Squeeze: US Airlifts Bars to Battle Historic Shortfall
Some traders have rushed to book slots in the cargo holds of transatlantic flights for bulky silver bars.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: The Verge, Mark Zuckerberg, The New York Times, Bloomberg, NVIDIA, Reuters, National Post, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Everytown for Gun Safety, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Al Jazeera, Haaretz, Yair Lapid, The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Government Spokesperson, CNN, EUobserver, European Commission, Transgender Europe, and The Guardian.