Real estate, crypto, Middle East deals: Who is Steve Witkoff?
A little over five months ago, few outside of the New York City real estate scene knew who Steve Witkoff was. Now, as the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, he's not only been tasked with trying to end the war in Gaza but he's also at the centre of negotiations with Russia over the war in Ukraine and with Iran to secure a new nuclear deal.
To understand how one of President Donald Trump's closest friends came to spearhead negotiations in some of the most complex foreign policy files of the last few years we talk to Isaac Stanley-Becker, staff writer at The Atlantic who recently wrote a profile on Steve Witkoff.
Fill out our listener survey here . We appreciate your input!
For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts
Subscribe to Front Burner on your favourite podcast app.
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Listen on YouTube
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBC
41 minutes ago
- CBC
Man mistakenly deported to El Salvador back in U.S. to face criminal charges
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose mistaken deportation to El Salvador became a political flashpoint in the Trump administration's stepped-up immigration enforcement, is being returned to the United States to face criminal charges related to what the U.S. says was a massive human smuggling operation that brought immigrants into the country illegally. Photo credit: Abrego Garcia Family


CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
6 killed, 80 wounded in intense Russian air attacks on Ukraine
KYIV - Russia launched an intense missile and drone barrage at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in the early hours of Friday, killing at least six people, Ukrainian officials said, as powerful explosions reverberated across the country. The attacks followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, conveyed via U.S. President Donald Trump, that the Kremlin would hit back after Ukrainian drones destroyed several strategic bomber aircraft in attacks deep inside Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said three emergency responders were killed in the missile and drone salvo against the capital. Two died in an attack on the northern city of Chernihiv and at least one more in the northwestern city of Lutsk. 'Those killed in Kyiv were rescue workers who arrived at the scene of an initial strike and, unfortunately, were killed in a repeat Russian strike,' Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, writing on X, said Russia had ''responded' to its destroyed aircraft... by attacking civilians in Ukraine.... Multi-story buildings hit. Energy infrastructure damaged.' Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had carried out the strike on military and military-related targets in response to what it called Ukrainian 'terrorist acts' against Russia. 'They gave Putin a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them last night,' Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, when asked about how Ukraine's earlier drone strikes had affected the conflict. Zelenskyy said 80 people nationwide had been injured in the attacks, which also struck several other towns and cities. He said residents could still be trapped under rubble. In Chernihiv, the national emergency services said two bodies were recovered from the rubble of a wrecked industrial enterprise. In Lutsk, the body of a man was found in the ruins of an apartment block, while emergency crews kept searching for his wife. Thirty people were hurt in the city, where educational institutions and a government building were also hit. Russian forces also struck industrial facilities and infrastructure in the western city of Ternopil, leaving parts of it without power, Mayor Serhii Nadal said. The regional administration said the attack had injured 10 people and asked residents to temporarily stay inside due to a high concentration of toxic substances in the air after a fire. The air force said Russia had used 407 drones, one of the largest numbers recorded in a single attack. It said 45 cruise and ballistic missiles were also fired. Attacks hit Kyiv transport system Kyiv's metro transport system was disrupted by a Russian strike that hit and damaged tracks between stations, the military administration said. The state rail company said it was also diverting some trains due to rail damage outside the city. Reuters witnesses reported a series of booming explosions powerful enough to rattle windows far from the impact sites. Some Kyiv residents sought shelter in metro stations, or in underground car parks. In the capital's Solomianskyi district, a Russian drone slammed into the side of an apartment building, leaving a gaping hole and burn marks, a Reuters photographer at the scene said. Falling concrete blocks from the building crushed cars parked below. Two police investigators were examining what appeared to be the drone's engine. Earlier in the night, Reuters reporters heard the sound of Russian kamikaze drones buzzing in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of outgoing fire from Ukrainian anti-aircraft batteries. Zelenskyy called for concerted pressure on Russia. 'If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives – that is complicity and accountability. We must act decisively,' he wrote on X. The Ukrainian military said it had launched a pre-emptive strike overnight on the Engels and Dyagilevo airfields in the Russian regions of Saratov and Ryazan, in addition to striking at least three fuel reservoirs. In one of the most audacious attacks of the three-year-old war between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian spies last weekend destroyed some of Russia's strategic bomber aircraft on the ground using quadrocopter drones hidden in wooden sheds. After a phone conversation with Putin on Wednesday, Trump said the Kremlin was planning an unspecified response to the Ukrainian attack on the Russian air bases. Reporting by Tom Balmforth, Max Hunder, Gleb Garanich, Anastasiia Malenko and Trevor Hunnicutt; writing by Ron Popeski; editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Clarence Fernandez, Gareth Jones, Mark Herinrich and David Gregorio.


Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Silver's Options Sizzle: Are Traders Betting on a Breakout?
A notable wave of trading activity swept through several silver-linked assets in early June. Investors saw a significant jump in call option volumes for multiple silver-related equities. Call options give the holder the right, not the requirement, to buy an asset, such as a stock or ETF share, at a pre-set price by a specific date. When call volume spikes, it often signals that some traders believe the asset's price is poised to rise. This unusual call option volume and increased investor interest in multiple stocks and ETFs at the same time warrant a closer look to see what's stirring in the silver sector. Unpacking the Action: A Look at Specific Silver Plays The heightened call option volume in early June varied across multiple silver-related securities, each telling a slightly different story. Separately, they tell four stories of bullish catalysts and heightened investor sentiment, but when combined, they start to reveal the bigger picture of a sector accumulating interest and investment. iShares Silver Trust: A Price Play on Silver Bullion? [content-module:CompanyOverview|NYSE:AG] The iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA: SLV), an ETF that aims to track the price of silver bullion, saw 599,279 call option contracts traded. This volume was 57.8% above its usual average. The high call volume may suggest that some traders expect silver prices to rebound soon or are preparing for further price fluctuations. Because SLV tracks physical silver, this option's activity directly reflects views on the metal itself, likely influenced by broader economic news or general market coverage. First Majestic: Mining News Ignites Options Interest? [content-module:CompanyOverview|NYSE:AG] First Majestic Silver Corp. (NYSE: AG), a company focused mainly on silver production, experienced a call option volume of 39,607 contracts, an 80.9% increase from its average. First Majestic's stock price has also climbed around 18% to $7.28 during the first week of June, with a high trading volume. This mix of soaring call options, a rising stock price, and heavy trading often points to strong positive sentiment. Recent good news from the company has also likely played a role. For instance, on May 28, 2025, First Majestic announced a significant gold-silver discovery at its Santa Elena property. This, along with strong financial results from the first quarter of 2025, could lead traders to expect more gains from the stock. Pan American Silver: Big Deal Draws Options Traders? [content-module:CompanyOverview|NYSEARCA:SILJ] Pan American Silver Corp. (NYSE: PAAS), a large, diversified silver producer, recorded 9,098 call option contracts traded, up 25.7% from its average. The company's stock price also rose, gaining nearly 10% in early June. This increased call activity, alongside positive news indicators, suggests investors are reacting well to recent company moves. A key factor is likely Pan American's May 11, 2025, announcement of a deal to acquire MAG Silver Corp. for $2.1 billion. This strategic acquisition is expected to significantly boost Pan American's silver output and potential future earnings, which could, in turn, lift its stock price and attract optimistic options bets. Junior Miners: High Hopes for Smaller Players? [content-module:CompanyOverview|NYSEARCA:SILJ] The Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (NYSEARCA: SILJ), which holds smaller silver mining and exploration companies, saw its call option volume hit 14,925 contracts. This was a striking 97.7% leap above its average, and it was also the most significant percentage increase among these assets. SILJ's price also increased by around 10% in early June. This dramatic percentage jump in calls for SILJ points to strong speculative interest in this part of the silver market. Junior miners often have stock prices that move more sharply with silver prices. The high option activity here suggests that some traders may be betting on substantial returns from these smaller firms if silver prices continue to climb or if positive news persists for the sector. Beyond Options: What This Means for the Silver Market When call option volume rises sharply across different types of silver assets, it can signal a broader increase in investor focus on the entire silver sector. Some traders may be positioning for potential price gains. Silver's appeal comes from several areas. Demand from industries utilizing silver in green technologies, such as solar panels, electronics and the automotive sector, remains strong. Silver is also a well-known precious metal. It is often regarded as a valuable investment that retains its value, especially during economic uncertainty or rising inflation. These core factors continue to support interest in the metal. What Spiking Call Volumes Say About Silver's Next Move The notable surge in call option activity across our four assets in early June clearly shows heightened investor focus on the silver sector. This flurry of bullish bets, reflected in the increased demand for call options, suggests that a market segment is positioning for potential upward price movements in silver bullion and mining equities. Whether driven by specific company news or broader shifts in sentiment towards precious metals, the data points to a renewed speculative interest. The significant percentage increase in call volume underscores a willingness among some traders to embrace higher-risk, potentially higher-reward scenarios within the silver space. Ultimately, this concentrated options activity serves as a strong indicator that silver and its related securities captured significant market attention. At the same time, the direct motivations behind each trade can vary, the collective signal points towards a period of dynamic interest and re-evaluation for the silver complex. How these expectations play out will depend on ongoing market fundamentals, company performance, and the broader economic landscape, ensuring that the silver narrative will remain one to watch. Where Should You Invest $1,000 Right Now? Before you make your next trade, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. Our team has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and none of the big name stocks were on the list.