🇺🇸 - Five current and former IRS employees have been charged in a scheme to fraudulently collect COVID-19 aid.
According to court documents, the defendants tried to obtain a total of USD 1 million by submitting false applications.
According to the Department of Justice, the defendants used the money for cars, luxury goods and personal travel. Brian Saulsberry of Memphis obtained USD 171 400 and is accused of buying a Mercedes and cushioning a personal investment account.
Tina Humes, also of Memphis, received USD 123 612 according to the DOJ, and is accused of using it to buy jewelry and go on a trip to Las Vegas.
This is part of a larger effort to crack down on COVID-19 fraud schemes that has led to 150 prosecutions and the seizure of USD 75 million dollars.
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📅 Daily summary — 09/07/2026
• The U.S.-Iran escalation widened with fresh American strikes on Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Chabahar, Konarak, Sirik, Kharg, Bushehr, Khuzestan and the Lavan refinery, targeting radar sites, air defenses, coastal sensors, missile and drone depots, naval capabilities and logistics infrastructure. Iran replied with missiles and drones against U.S. ships in the Sea of Oman and targets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, while Tehran raised the toll to 14 dead and 78 wounded and confirmed 8 losses in its air force and navy.
• CENTCOM said the latest round of strikes on Iran hit about 90 targets, after around 80 were struck the night before, including more than 60 small Revolutionary Guard boats, and said the campaign could last days or weeks. Bloomberg also reported that ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz came to a complete halt.
• At the NATO summit, Donald Trump attacked Spain, calling it a “terrible partner” and “a lost cause,” and repeated that he ...
🔥 Top Stories
• U.S.-Iran escalation widens — Fresh U.S. strikes hit Iranian military, ports, bridges and air defenses; Iran says it will retaliate, raising war-risk headlines and pushing oil higher
• Hormuz disruption risk spikes — Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz nearly halted; Gulf states issued alerts/sirens as maritime insurance costs jumped
• Oil, gold and bonds react — Brent neared $79, WTI jumped above $75, and gold held above $4,100 as inflation and supply-shock fears returned
⛽ Oil & Energy
• Hormuz/Red Sea flows under pressure — Maersk rerouted one service via the Red Sea while ship traffic in Hormuz slowed sharply
• Global energy supply jitters — Norway flagged rising output losses; Kazakhstan’s Atyrau refinery resumed early; Colombia oil output also slipped
• OPEC+ geopolitics — Iraq said it will stay in OPEC but wants a fairer quota amid broader regional tension
📊 Markets & Macro
• Risk-off then selective rebound — Asia traded mixed as tech shares helped...