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Thursday, March 19, 2026
18 minutes ago
News

Oil Hits $120 Amid Iran Conflict.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Brent crude surged to nearly $120 a barrel amid escalating Middle East tensions, before retreating later in the morning.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and QatarEnergy, among others.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Events unfolded Wednesday night into Thursday across the Middle East, including strikes in Iran and Saudi Arabia, and damage in Qatar.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The U.S. would destroy Iran’s South Pars gas field if Iran attacks Qatar.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Global oil and gas prices surged, with Brent futures hitting $120 briefly, while U.S. gasoline prices spiked to $3.88 a gallon on average.

IN FULL

Brent crude oil prices spiked to nearly $120 a barrel on Thursday morning following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. A drone struck a Saudi refinery, and President Trump issued a warning that the United States would destroy Iran’s South Pars gas field if Iran retaliated against Qatar.

By late morning, Brent futures retreated to $112, while West Texas Intermediate crude traded near $98. The price surge followed Israeli airstrikes on gas-processing and petrochemical facilities connected to South Pars, marking the first direct attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure in the ongoing conflict.

President Trump, distancing the U.S. from the Israeli strikes, stated on Truth Social that Washington had no prior knowledge of the attacks. However, he emphasized that the U.S. would act decisively against Iran if Qatar was targeted. In response, Iran launched missiles that caused significant damage to Qatar’s liquefied natural gas facilities, including fires at Ras Laffan Industrial City.

“I thought that it would go up more than it did, but we’re doing this excursion, and when it’s completed, we’re going to have a much safer world,” Trump said on Thursday afternoon.

Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry confirmed a drone strike on the Samref refinery, with damage assessments ongoing. Meanwhile, Dutch TTF natural gas futures surged 17 percent following the attacks in Qatar. The WTI-Brent price spread widened to nearly $20, reflecting greater perceived risks for international crude supplies.

U.S. gasoline prices followed the trend, with the national average reaching $3.88 per gallon on Thursday, a significant increase from the previous month. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested the administration might lift sanctions on Iranian oil already in transit or tap the strategic petroleum reserve to address the supply concerns.

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48 minutes ago
Immigration

WATCH: Top House Dem Bizarrely Claims Founding Fathers Were ‘Undocumented Immigrants.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) bizarrely claimed that Thomas Paine, a Founding Father, was an “undocumented immigrant” during a congressional subcommittee hearing on Wednesday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), and members of the Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, during a Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government hearing.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I didn’t say he was an illegal immigrant, I said he was an undocumented immigrant, just like Thomas Jefferson’s family was.” – Rep Jamie Raskin

🎯IMPACT: The comments sparked debate over American history and immigration at the hearing.

IN FULL

A top House Democrat is claiming America’s Founding Fathers were mostly “undocumented” immigrants, in a bizarre attempt to undermine a Republican hearing regarding the effects of the 1982 Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe, which determined that states cannot block illegal immigrant children from attending school, citing the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) described American revolutionary pamphleteer Thomas Paine, the author of Common Sense, as an “undocumented immigrant” during his opening remarks during the Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government hearing on Wednesday.

“I want to start by invoking Tom Paine, who was an undocumented immigrant who came to this land in 1774, two years before the revolution and wrote Common Sense, the pamphlet that ignited the American Revolution,” Raskin said. “And he said that this land, if it lives up to its ideals and its promise, would become an ‘asylum to humanity,’ he said. Not an insane asylum, but a place of refuge for people seeking freedom from religious and political, intellectual, and economic persecution from all over the world.”

The rabidly anti-Trump Democrat lawmaker further asserted that Thomas Jefferson descended from “a long line of undocumented immigrants both on his mother’s side and his father’s side to the country.”

The claims prompted Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) to interject, “I was just curious, Chairman [Chip Roy (R-TX)], the ranking member [Raskin] said, I think his opening sentence was Thomas Paine was an illegal immigrant. My understanding was Mr. Paine was born in the UK, came to America, then a British colony, in 1774. So I was just struggling how he was…” He was then cut off by Raskin, who replied, “I didn’t say he was an illegal immigrant, I said he was an undocumented immigrant, just like Thomas Jefferson’s family was. Most of our ancestors did not arrive here with documents.”


The shift in Democrat rhetoric regarding America’s Founding Fathers is curious. Over the last several years, the party has pandered to its far-left base by pushing to remove America’s revolutionary leaders from public spaces, including an attempt to take down statues of Founding Fathers like George Washington displayed in New York City.

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2 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
Economy

New Home Sales Collapsed in January to the Lowest Level in Years.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New U.S. home sales have fallen dramatically to levels not seen in years, with January’s newly built single-family home purchases performing far below forecasts.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. homeowners, the Trump administration, and the housing industry.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The figures were published on March 19, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: The data suggests the U.S. housing market may be losing momentum faster than forecast, which could signal the beginning of an economic downturn.

IN FULL

U.S. new home sales fell sharply in January, dropping far more than expected and hitting their lowest level in several years, according to newly released government data. Sales of newly built single-family homes plunged 17.6 percent from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 587,000 units, the weakest pace since late 2022. Economists had anticipated a higher number of new sales at 722,000, signaling the housing market may be losing momentum faster than forecast.

The slowdown was broad-based, with all four major U.S. regions reporting declines. Severe winter weather, including snowstorms and freezing temperatures, likely discouraged buyers from touring homes and finalizing purchases. Still, the weakness extends beyond temporary disruptions.

December’s figures were revised lower, indicating the market had already been softening. Mortgage rates have also risen again after a brief dip, increasing borrowing costs and worsening affordability. At the same time, builders continue to grapple with high construction costs, labor shortages, and limited land.

Inventory has climbed to nearly 10 months of supply—well above a balanced level—while the median price of a new home has declined year over year, suggesting weaker demand is putting pressure on prices.

The National Pulse previously reported that President Donald J. Trump has pushed housing affordability measures focused on limiting corporate ownership of single-family homes, arguing that homes should be prioritized for individuals and families rather than large investors.

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3 hours ago
William Upton
Data
Immigration

MIGRANT WELFARE RANKINGS: Guess Which Groups Cost YOU The Most to Host?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new report released by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) sheds critical light on the scope of American welfare benefits accessed by noncitizens, revealing surprising variation by country and level of educational attainment.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Noncitizen households—including both permanent legal residents and illegal immigrants, American taxpayers, and the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The study was released on March 18, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Although most new legal immigrants and illegal immigrants are barred from accessing most means-tested programs, these restrictions have not prevented a large share of noncitizen-headed households from accessing the welfare system.” — CIS

🎯IMPACT: According to the data, 47 percent of households headed by a noncitizen—both permanent legal residents and illegal immigrants—utilize at least one government-funded welfare program. This number jumps to 54 percent when including refundable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC).

IN FULL

A new report released by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) sheds critical light on the scope of American welfare benefits accessed by noncitizens, revealing surprising variation by country and level of educational attainment. According to the data, 47 percent of households headed by a noncitizen—both permanent legal residents and illegal immigrants—utilize at least one government-funded welfare program. This number jumps to 54 percent when including refundable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). For native-born Americans, the percentages are 28 percent and 31 percent, respectively.

“Although most new legal immigrants and illegal immigrants are barred from accessing most means-tested programs, these restrictions have not prevented a large share of noncitizen-headed households from accessing the welfare system,” CIS explains, continuing, “This is primarily because non-citizens often receive benefits on behalf of their U.S.-born children and the restrictions only apply to some programs. These facts coupled with the large share of noncitizens who have modest levels of education and their resulting low incomes mean many can use means-tested anti-poverty programs.”

Households headed by noncitizens from Afghanistan are the top beneficiaries of American welfare programs. The CIS report shows that 82 percent of Afghan immigrant households are dependent on traditional government welfare assistance. This number rises to a stunning 87 percent when the EITC and ACTC are included.

After Afghanistan, noncitizens originating from the Dominican Republic are the next largest welfare users. Next in line, 78 percent of Dominican households rely on either traditional welfare programs or refundable tax credits. Similarly, 77 percent of households headed by noncitizens from Guatemala are reliant on the same.

The lowest welfare use among noncitizen households is by those headed by individuals from South Korea, the United Kingdom, Canada, and India, respectively. Other national origin groups falling below the average welfare use for all noncitizens are Venezuela, Brazil, the Philippines, and China.

When broken down by region, Central American noncitizens are the most likely to use welfare, with 74 percent utilizing government aid programs or refundable tax credits. Interestingly, immigrants from South Asia are the only regional group to utilize welfare programs less than native-born Americans, with just 19 percent benefiting from both traditional and non-traditional government assistance. Noncitizen households headed by individuals of European origin, meanwhile, are nearly on par with native-born Americans, with just 34 percent accessing refundable tax credits or traditional welfare programs.

 

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3 hours ago
News
War

U.S. Embassy Issues Warning to ‘Americans Worldwide’ After Islamist Terror Bombings Rock Europe.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Embassy in Rome issued a security alert urging Americans worldwide to exercise heightened caution following U.S. combat operations in Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Embassy officials, Italian intelligence services, and terrorist groups allegedly linked to the Iranian regime.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 18, 2026, in Italy and other European locations.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are not at war and we do not want to enter a war.” – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

🎯IMPACT: Heightened security concerns for Americans abroad, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, with advisories for vigilance and preparedness.

IN FULL

The U.S. Embassy in Rome has issued a security alert urging “Americans worldwide”, including those in Italy, to remain vigilant following the launch of U.S. combat operations in Iran. The March 18, 2026, warning mirrors a similar notice from the U.S. Embassy after a series of targeted explosions in major European cities.

Italian intelligence had already warned of heightened risks earlier in March, citing the Iran conflict as a driver of increased terrorism threats. A March 4 report pointed to extremist activity in Europe, including operations linked to Hamas such as weapons circulation and potential plots against Israeli and Jewish communities.

Between March 9 and March 14, a terrorist group with suspected ties to the Iranian regime claimed responsibility for attacks on Jewish targets across Europe. Reports indicate that both attacks and disrupted plots have grown in number since the start of the Iran war, raising concerns about retaliatory violence spreading beyond the Middle East.

The U.S. Department of State has warned that U.S. military action could trigger unrest or reprisals globally. Americans abroad are advised to monitor embassy updates, review travel advisories, and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Officials also caution that airspace closures and flight disruptions may occur.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed her country’s stance, stating, “We are not at war, and we do not want to enter a war.” She criticized the U.S. action as “an evident crisis of international law and the collapse of a shared world order,” while also acknowledging, “We cannot afford an ayatollah regime possessing a nuclear weapon, combined with a missile capability that could soon be able to strike Italy and, even more so, Europe directly.”

In Washington, Tulsi Gabbard described the strikes ordered by President Donald J. Trump as a strategic success. Polling suggests many Americans agree, though concerns persist about long-term consequences and alliance stability.

Image by Fars Media Corporation.

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4 hours ago
William Upton
Economy
War

Trump Denies U.S. Knowledge of Major LNG Attack, Blames ‘Israeli Anger.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump late Wednesday claimed the United States had no prior knowledge of Israeli military strikes targeting Iran’s South Pars natural gas field.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, the U.S. military, Israel, Iran, and Qatar.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Israel strikes occurred earlier this week, with President Trump responding to the potentially escalatory situation on Truth Social late Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen.” — Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The Israeli strike and Iranian retaliation are seen as significant escalations in the ongoing war, threatening critical energy infrastructure an an estimated 20 percent of the global supply of liquified natural gas (LNG).

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump late Wednesday claimed the United States had no prior knowledge of Israeli military strikes targeting facilities servicing Iran‘s South Pars natural gas field. Situated in the middle of the Persian Gulf, the natural gas field is split between Iran and Qatar, and forms a critical part of the former’s domestic energy infrastructure.

“Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran. A relatively small section of the whole has been hit,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, continuing, “The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen. Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility.”

The U.S. President went on to state that Israeli strikes on the South Pars natural gas field will cease, but warned Iran against any further retaliatory attacks against Qatar and its energy infrastructure. “The United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before,” Trump said, adding, “I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so.”

Still, a number of experts and government sources suggest it is highly unlikely that the United States was not made aware of the Israeli strikes against the South Pars natural gas field in advance. “Trump can post whatever he likes. But there is zero, I mean zero, chance the IDF would conduct a strike in that location without giving CENTCOM full visibility,” former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding, “Trump knew (and approved). Now he realizes it caused a major escalation with Iran’s (entirely unjustified) attacks on Gulf energy targets.”

Similarly, Axios’s Barak Ravid claims sources in both the Israeli and U.S. governments have told him the Trump administration had prior knowledge of the Israeli strikes. This directly contradicts President Trump’s claims, with Ravid contending, “After the Iranians retaliated against Qatar’s gas fields, Trump is now changing course.”

The combined South Pars (Iran) and North Dome (Qatar) natural gas field is—by a significant margin—the world’s largest deposit. In total, the field covers an estimated 3,700 square miles, with Qatar’s North Dome processing facilities at Ras Laffan Industrial City producing around 20 percent of the global LNG supply. While destroying the entire natural gas field is a near impossibility, as it sits nearly 10,000 feet below the Persian Gulf’s seabed and is contained within a sprawling formation of porous rock, the further destruction of industrial facilities in Qatar could cause significant global economic damage.

Image by Stefano Campolo.

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5 hours ago
War

Pentagon Demands $200BN Extra for War, as U.S. Debt Hits Historic Level.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the Pentagon’s reported $200 billion budget request for war funding against Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, and members of Congress.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 19, 2026, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It takes money to kill bad guys.” — Pete Hegseth.

🎯IMPACT: Retaliatory missile and drone strikes by the Iranian regime against the Arab Gulf states and U.S. military bases have required the use of a significant number of interceptor munitions.

IN FULL

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth acknowledged Thursday morning that the Pentagon’s $200 billion supplemental funding ask to Congress “could move,” in light of the ongoing American military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The budget request, primarily aimed at replenishing the Department of War’s munitions stockpiles, comes as Operation Epic Fury—authorized by President Donald J. Trump on February 28—has already cost an estimated $12 billion.

“It takes money to kill bad guys,” Secretary Hegseth said, adding, “We’re going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded.”

Notably, Kevin Hassett, the director of President Trump’s National Economic Council, stated last Sunday that he does not believe the U.S. needs to request additional funds from Congress for the war effort directly. However, retaliatory missile and drone strikes by the Iranian regime against the Arab Gulf states and U.S. military bases have required the use of a significant number of interceptor munitions. The Pentagon has already begun redeploying missile-interceptor assets from East Asia to the Middle East to backfill defense systems.

“An investment like this is meant to say, ‘Hey, we’ll replace anything that was spent.’ And now … we’re reviving our defense industrial base and rebuilding the arsenal of freedom,” Hegseth added.

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20 hours ago
News

CIA Weather Control Files Reignite Chemtrails Debate.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Declassified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) documents revealed a secretive weather modification agenda involving chemical dispersal to control weather patterns.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The CIA, the late former President Lyndon B. Johnson (D), and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The documents date back to 1965, with programs such as Project Stormfury and Project Popeye conducted in the U.S. and Vietnam.

💬KEY QUOTE: “He who controls the weather will control the world.” – Lyndon B. Johnson

🎯IMPACT: The revelations have fueled controversy about government weather manipulation and chemtrails.

IN FULL

Resurfaced Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) documents, first declassified in 2003, have provided details on past U.S. government research and operations involving weather modification. The files, including an 18-page report, discuss proposals dating back to 1965 for using aircraft to release chemicals into the atmosphere in order to influence climate patterns and storm systems.

According to the documents, federal funding for weather modification efforts rose substantially by 1967. That same period saw the U.S. military carry out cloud-seeding operations in Vietnam as part of Project Popeye, which sought to extend the monsoon season and create floods and landslides along enemy supply routes.

The report includes a letter from the late former President Lyndon B. Johnson (D) expressing support for these activities. In a 1962 speech, Johnson, at the time Vice President to President John F. Kennedy, infamously remarked, “He who controls the weather will control the world. Among the programs developed during his administration was Project Stormfury, an experimental effort that attempted to weaken hurricanes by seeding clouds with silver iodide.

The files have reignited debate over “chemtrails,” trails seen trailing aircraft that some argue are, at least sometimes, not simple contrails—condensation trails caused by exhaust fumes mixing with cold air—but harmful chemicals being purposely sprayed into the atmosphere.

Chemtrails are frequently dismissed as a conspiracy theory, but Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., after being elevated to the Trump Cabinet, suggested they are real, likely orchestrated by DARPA, and caused by materials mixed into commercial jet fuel.

“I’m going to do everything in my power to stop it. We’re bringing on somebody who’s going to think only about that, find out who’s doing it, and holding them accountable,” Kennedy vowed last April.

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20 hours ago
Health
News

Argentina Follows U.S. Lead, Exits WHO.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Argentina has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Argentine President Javier Milei’s government and the WHO.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The withdrawal was completed on March 17, 2026, as announced by the Foreign Ministry.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Argentina will continue to promote international cooperation in health through bilateral agreements and regional forums, while fully preserving its sovereignty and its capacity to make decisions regarding health policies.” – Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno

🎯IMPACT: The move follows the United States’ similar decision earlier this year, raising questions about the WHO’s influence.

IN FULL

Argentina has now finalized its exit from the World Health Organization (WHO), with officials confirming the withdrawal was completed on Tuesday. The announcement comes after the United States took similar action earlier this year. The administration of President Javier Milei, an ally of President Donald J. Trump, had signaled its intent to leave the United Nations (UN) agency roughly a year ago. The decision was largely driven by concerns over how the organization managed the COVID-19 crisis.

According to Argentina’s Foreign Ministry, the withdrawal was carried out in full compliance with the rules governing international agreements. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno stressed that the country will continue to engage in global health efforts, stating that Argentina remains open to cooperation through bilateral and regional partnerships while prioritizing national sovereignty.

“Argentina will continue to promote international cooperation in health through bilateral agreements and regional forums, while fully preserving its sovereignty and its capacity to make decisions regarding health policies, ” Quirno said.

In prior statements, Argentine officials criticized the WHO, arguing that its guidance during the pandemic appeared influenced by politics rather than grounded purely in scientific evidence. This mirrors the justification offered by the United States, which formally exited in January after an executive order signed by President Trump.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a former Ethiopian health minister for the left-wing ethnic nationalist Tigray People’s Liberation Front, expressed disappointment following the U.S. withdrawal, claiming that the move could weaken global health security and coordination.

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21 hours ago
News

Country’s Largest Railway Station Still Partially Closed Ten Days After Vape Store Caused Devastating Fire.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Scotland’s Glasgow Central Station remains partially closed after a vape store caused a fire that destroyed a historic building nearby.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ScotRail, Network Rail Scotland, Glasgow City Council, and passengers impacted by the closure.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Glasgow Central Station; services remain limited as of Wednesday, March 18, 2023, following the March 8 fire.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We realise the closure is causing significant disruption for our customers, and we’re very sorry for the impact it is still having on journeys.” – David Ross, ScotRail Chief Operating Officer.

🎯IMPACT: Partial reopening allows reduced capacity services to Ayr, Paisley Gilmour Street, and other destinations, while demolition of the fire-damaged building continues.

IN FULL

Glasgow Central Station, Scotland’s largest railway hub, remains partially closed ten days after a vape store caused a devastating fire nearby, destroying the city’s 175-year-old Union Corner building and forcing a full closure. ScotRail Chief Operating Officer David Ross said: “We realize the closure is causing significant disruption for our customers, and we’re very sorry for the impact it is still having on journeys.”

Network Rail Scotland route director Ross Moran said: “This has been an exceptionally challenging situation for everyone affected.”

The blaze highlights wider concerns over the proliferation of vape stores, seemingly out of all proportion to the economic demand for them, across many Western countries. The store that caused the fire was unregistered, and Scottish reporters found over a dozen similar unregistered stores within a mile of Union Corner after the fire.

The stores are frequently linked to organized crime, including human trafficking and illegal immigration, on both sides of the Atlantic. Earlier this month in the United States, raids on vape stores in North Carolina resulted in four arrests and the seizure of drugs and millions of dollars in cash.

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