U.S. Treasury Yield Path May Depend on Budget Sustainability, Investor Behavior
The trajectory of U.S. Treasury yields will depend on a few things, said Swissquote Bank's Ipek Ozkardeskaya in a note. The fiscal choices made by the U.S., whether the budget is sustainable, and whether there is any long-term plan to rein in the debt.
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Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US redeploys troops in Syria, as Washington builds ties with new government
Reports indicate hundreds of soldiers may be withdrawn, and US forces may move from bases near the Euphrates River to consolidate at one base in eastern Syria. The United States is redeploying troops in Syria as changes in Damascus mean that the United States will be able to alter its footprint in the country. These changes have happened quickly as the new government in Syria has taken shape in the last six months since the fall of the Assad regime. The United States has also decided to conduct outreach to the new government in Syria and to appoint a new envoy, Ambassador Tom Barrack, who is currently the ambassador in Turkey. Reports that the United States is shifting its troop locations—reportedly withdrawing up to 500 troops, according to Jennifer Griffin at Fox News, and moving some from bases near the Euphrates to bases further east near Shaddadi—are significant because they could shift the balance of power in parts of Syria. Understanding the United States' role in Syria is important, and it is essential to understand how the United States got to this point. The United States' role in Syria is complex and dates back to 2015, when the United States intervened to fight ISIS. Initially, the United States supported the formation of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an outgrowth of the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish armed group. The SDF served as an umbrella group that the United States could work with more directly in the war on ISIS. The YPG is viewed as a terrorist group by the United States and NATO ally Turkey, so it was important to keep them institutionally separate despite their significant role in eastern Syria fighting ISIS. The United States also backed a group of Syrian rebels in southern Syria who became known as the Syrian Free Army (SFA). This group should not be confused with the Free Syrian Army, an umbrella group of Syrian rebel factions. The SFA at Tanf consisted of only several hundred fighters trained by the United States. After the fall of the Assad regime, this group integrated with the Syrian Army's 70th Division. It currently patrols parts of southern Syria, helping to contain ISIS threats and protect an airbase. The SDF is much larger, with tens of thousands of fighters. It controls territory east of the Euphrates River. In early March, SDF leader Mazlum Abdi met with the new Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to discuss integrating his forces and eastern Syria into the new government. This was an important development supported by the United States-led Coalition, which included US forces under United States Central Command. The United States helped pave the way for engagement with Damascus, and both the Pentagon and the White House backed this policy in May when United States President Donald Trump met Syria's president in Riyadh. From there, the United States State Department pushed forward for sanctions relief, and Tom Barrack was appointed the new envoy. This ended years of discord between the Pentagon, which supported the SDF, and the State Department, which had generally been less supportive of the SDF. One reason the United States can reduce its troop presence is that other foreign powers are leaving Syria. During the decade-long civil war, Russia and Iran played key roles in Syria—Russia since 2015 and Iran since 2012. Turkey also invaded northern Syria in 2015 and 2016, making Syria a battleground for world powers. Many countries bombed Syria, including Israel. After the fall of the Assad regime, Iran withdrew, and Russia was confined to a base near the coast. The United States was left as the sole major power involved. However, Israel increased its attacks and took control of areas along the border. The number of United States troops in Syria has always been a point of discussion in Washington. For years, it was thought to be only a few hundred, but the actual number is around 2,000. These numbers were supposed to be reduced over the past months. Recent reports indicate that the United States is revising where it is deployed in Syria, shifting troops from the Euphrates further east. This comes as the SDF and Damascus continue talks focused on unity and integration. It is also made possible by efforts to keep ISIS in check, as the Syrian government continues to rebuild its army and graduate new forces. North Press in eastern Syria reported that, according to American officials, three United States bases have either been shut down or transferred to the SDF. Among them, the al-Omar base has been fully closed, the Conoco base handed over to the SDF, and a smaller outpost vacated. A recent interview with Envoy Barrack on NTV also highlights how the United States continues to support the SDF. His comments differed from those of other officials, such as former ambassador James Jeffrey, who had described the United States' role in eastern Syria in less committed terms. Six years ago, key figures in Washington viewed the SDF as a temporary, tactical, and transactional partner. Now, Barrack has called the SDF an ally and emphasized that members of Congress see support for them as important. He backs their integration into the new Syrian government's forces. This marks a shift in tone, as significant as having the Pentagon, the United States State Department, and the White House aligned on Syria policy, unlike the fragmented approach seen between 2015 and 2019. The United States' policy in Syria can now move forward because of this coordination, aiming to prevent a vacuum from forming along the Euphrates and to encourage stability. With each redeployment of United States forces, a 'trust, but verify' approach remains essential to ensure progress.
News24
an hour ago
- News24
Buyers storm SA bond auction —R18bn bids for R4bn issue
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Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
Amazon, A Small Pharmacy Player, Seeks To Dent CVS And Walgreens Medicare Share
Amazon Pharmacy is rolling out new features in hopes of attracting more seniors covered by Medicare's drug benefit, a potentially lucrative market dominated by CVS Health and Walgreens. In an announcement Tuesday, Amazon said it is launching a new 'caregiver support feature' that allows its customers to have someone else manage medications on their behalf. Once the caregivers are verified through a secure invitation, 'caregivers can now manage medications for their loved ones,' the company said. In addition, customers with Medicare Part D drug coverage can now access PillPack, Amazon's online pharmacy that is designed to simplify medication management, particularly for multiple prescriptions via pre-sorted and labeled packets delivered directly to patients' doors. It's the latest effort by the online retail giant Amazon to invest in its pharmacy business, which Drug Channels Institute estimates generated 'less than $2 billion in 2024 revenue - just 0.3% of the total prescription dispensing market.' Amazon doesn't disclose how many prescriptions it fills or financial information regarding its pharmacy and healthcare businesses. Amazon, which purchased PillPack seven years ago this month for more than $750 million, has yet to disclose revenues for its Amazon Pharmacy business in the parent company's quarterly earnings statements. In contrast, CVS filled 435 million prescriptions in the first quarter for an increase of 4.3% from the year ago period while Walgreens filled more than 309 million prescription in its most recent quarter, up 3.4%. Combined, Walgreens and CVS generated more than $370 billion in prescription revenues last year, According to Dryg Channels. CVS and Walgreens have the largest share of the U.S. prescription market by most measures at a combined 40% while Amazon's share is less than 1%, according to some studies. Neither CVS nor Walgreens would disclose how many Medicare Part D prescriptions the companies fill. By adding features for seniors, Amazon Pharmacy is looking to tap a Medicare prescription market growing by thousands every day. More than 11,000 Americans are turning 65 every day. Amazon is also trying to find a niche with Americans who are caring for an elderly family member. More than 50 million people in the U.S. 'are taking care of an aging family member,' Amazon said citing data from AARP. The aging population, coupled by industry statistics showing up to one-third of Americans don't take their medications as directed or never fill them. 'These updates deliver what our customers have been asking for—simpler medication management for themselves and their loved ones,' Amazon Pharmacy vice president John Love said. 'Whether you're a caregiver juggling multiple prescriptions for an aging parent, or a customer who could benefit from the convenience of pre-sorted packets delivered reliably each month, we're removing barriers and making pharmacy work better for you.'
