🔮 Michael Selig, chairman of the CFTC, emphasized that prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi are vital tools for cutting through misinformation—proving more accurate than traditional public opinion polls during the 2024 elections. In December 2025, Kalshi published a study showing that user-driven forecasts on its platform outperformed Wall Street analysts’ predictions, particularly in gauging inflation trends. mt at max

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🗓 Today, April 13, 2026, marks a pivotal day on the global stage. At 17:00 MSK, the U.S. initiates a naval blockade of Iran. The temporary ceasefire announced by Russia for Easter has officially ended.

In financial markets, the U.S. corporate earnings season kicks off officially. OPEC releases its monthly oil market report at 14:00 MSK, offering insights into supply and demand dynamics. Russia’s February trade balance data comes out at 16:00 MSK, followed by U.S. existing home sales figures for March at 17:00 MSK.

On the corporate front, AFLT reports operating results, while Goldman Sachs delivers its quarterly update at 14:30 MSK.

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🛢 Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will hold discussions with Russian President Putin today regarding oil supplies.

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🇺🇸 Meta is reportedly creating an AI-powered version of Mark Zuckerberg to interact with employees, according to the Financial Times. The initiative is meant to streamline internal communication and improve engagement across the company. Read more here.

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⚠️ Some analysts suggest the U.S. is fine-tuning strategies for a potential "maritime blockade" against China, learning from past actions involving Venezuela, Cuba, and more recently, Iran.

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🚫🇮🇷 In a decisive move, former President Trump declared a U.S. blockade on all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, set to take effect April 13 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time.

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🛢 President Trump revealed that multiple ships are heading to the U.S. to pick up American oil. For more information, visit .

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🛢 Oil traders are sounding the alarm: a prolonged conflict could deepen fuel shortages, following failed talks between the U.S. and Iran and Trump's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, according to the FT. Meanwhile, WSJ reports that executives from three major U.S. oil firms have warned the Trump administration about the serious risks posed by a sustained blockade of the Strait, which could intensify the global energy crisis.

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⚠️ A recent "Platforma" survey has identified an "inflation anxiety indicator" among Russians, revealing that around 82% expect utility and food prices to rise faster than their incomes in the coming year. Full survey results are available here. For deeper analysis, visit .

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📉 Things were looking up as spot BTC ETF inflows started to recover—then Trump took to Truth Social, and the momentum quickly faded. BTC plunged nearly $3,000 over the weekend. By Monday’s close, we’re likely looking at an ETF outflow. BTC has been stuck in a sideways trend for more than two months.

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⚠️🇺🇸 Former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hints that Donald Trump might be feeling the weight of his recent political momentum. In recent weeks, Trump has backed himself into a corner, leaving him with limited room to maneuver ahead.

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🇺🇸 Former President Trump recently shared a striking image on social media portraying himself as Jesus healing the sick. He also posted a futuristic concept of a Trump Tower on the Moon. For more, head to .

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🛢️🇷🇺 Wholesale prices for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) increased by more than 15% in just one week, reflecting major shifts in the market. For further insights, check .

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⚠️ Purchases of Russian-made vehicles have sharply declined. As equipment costs rise, businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to renew their vehicle fleets. This trend was highlighted by Vedomosti. Read more on MarketTwits.

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Investment firms expect the new windfall tax to have only a minor and temporary effect on the MOEX Russia Index, according to a growing consensus. mt в max

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⚠️🇺🇸 An appeals court has ruled that construction of the White House ballroom during Trump’s presidency can proceed until April 17. This decision clears the way for finishing the project, which had previously stalled. Read more. For additional updates, visit here.

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🇺🇸 Elon Musk is gearing up to launch his messaging app, XChat, on iPhone this April 17. Early reports suggest it could become a serious competitor to WhatsApp and Telegram. Source

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🪨 The Gulf War has driven a sharp rise in global coal prices. Countries that had already moved away from coal are now revisiting it as a fallback amid expensive and unreliable gas supplies, reports Forbes. For deeper analysis, visit .

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⚠️ In an interview with IS "Vesti," a senior Hezbollah official, Mahmoud Kumati, declared that the disarmament of Hezbollah is out of the question. Read more here.

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🇺🇸🇬🇧 OpenAI is launching its first office in London, signaling a major step in its global expansion beyond the U.S. Learn more here.

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⚠️ Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel hits back at Trump's threats, vowing that Cuba will defend itself to the very end.

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