Podcasts about us central command

US Central Command says it intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles, and Iran state media says Tehran is suspending talks with the US ... Rescuers desperately searching for the two men still trapped in a Laos cave say they've heard sounds of life from underground ... Protests explode again right outside an ICE detention facility in New Jersey amid allegations of unsanitary conditions and lack of adequate medical care.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The U.S. military says Kuwait intercepted a ballistic missile Iran launched toward the country Wednesday night. It comes after the U.S. targeted a site that posed a threat to U.S. forces and commercial traffic. In response, Iran's military launched an attack targeting an American air base in the area.The Treasury launches 'Trump Accounts' on app stores nationwide, advancing a policy initiative that aims to create millions of investment accounts for children. It seeks to encourage long-term investing from an early age through government-backed starter accounts.

The US military conducted “self-defense strikes” targeting Iranian missile launch sites and boats around the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to US Central Command, amid a ceasefire and ongoing negotiations to end the war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this situational briefing, I sit down with John Spencer, Senior Analyst at The MirYam Institute. We analyze recent US naval engagements in the Strait of Hormuz amid the Operation Epic Fury ceasefire, the shifting military dynamics involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the broader geopolitical pressures surrounding Iran's nuclear program.  Finally, we debate Gaza's strategic future, contrasting a proposed population relocation to the Sinai Peninsula with the absolute isolation and demilitarization of Hamas.Support the showThe MirYam Institute. Israel's Future in Israel's Hands.Subscribe to our podcast: https://podfollow.com/1493910771Follow The MirYam Institute X: https://bit.ly/3jkeUyxFollow Benjamin Anthony X: https://bit.ly/3hZeOe9Like Benjamin Anthony Facebook: https://bit.ly/333Ct93Like The MirYam Institute Facebook: https://bit.ly/2SarHI3Follow Benjamin Anthony Instagram: https://bit.ly/30m6uPGFollow The MirYam Institute Instagram: https://bit.ly/3l5fvED

A US Central Command spokesperson said US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran on Monday, in which US forces hit targets, including missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines.US Secretary of State Rubio said US strikes on Iran do not preclude a diplomatic deal and that an Iran deal is possible within days.A source familiar with talks between the high-level Iranian delegation and officials in Doha said Qatari mediation has led to an understanding with the US on Tehran's frozen financial assets, according to Al Jazeera.Crude futures partially rebounded off the prior day's lows after slumping nearly 7% on Monday.Asia-Pac stocks were mixed; European equity futures indicate a mildly lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.3%.Looking ahead, highlights include US Chicago Fed National Activity Index (Apr), Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index (May), Consumer Confidence (May), NBH Policy Announcement (May), Supply from Italy & the US.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

US Central Command spokesperson said US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran on Monday, in which US forces hit targets, including missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines.Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei said America will no longer have a safe haven in the Middle East, while the IRGC affirm its right to respond to any ceasefire breach. Global bourses pare Monday's gains after renewed US strikes on Iranian sites, while Ferrari stalls following EV launch.DXY rangebound, Kiwi underperforms heading into RBNZ, Cable reverses from 1.35 while EUR firmer as Schnabel sees a June hike. Fixed income benchmarks hold a negative bias amid higher energy prices, as US strikes Iranian sites in "self-defence."Looking ahead, highlights include US Chicago Fed National Activity Index (Apr), Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index (May), Consumer Confidence (May), NBH Policy Announcement (May), Speakers include ECB's Sleijpen, Supply from the US.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Iran's expected to respond to the US's proposal to end the conflict sometime today. Yesterday, Axios reported a one-page 14-point memorandum of understanding was being discussed to formally end the war. The memo aims to set up negotiations for limiting Iran's nuclear capabilities, releasing billions-of-dollars in frozen assets, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. US Correspondent Simon Marks told Mike Hosking the reported content of the memo sounds very similar to the previous deal with Iran that was criticised by Donald Trump. In the meantime, the US has confirmed it has struck Iranian targets. US Central Command saying its forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks which included missiles, drones and small boats. It says it responded with defence strikes against the inbound threats and targeted missile and drone launch sites, along with command and control locations. Iran is accusing the US of violating the ceasefire and targeting an Iranian oil tanker moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Its state broadcaster reports aerial attacks were carried out along the coast and Iran immediately responded by attacking US military vessels. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Die Dow-Futures verlieren zum Wochenstart rund 200 Punkte, nachdem neue Spannungen mit Iran die Ölpreise deutlich nach oben treiben. WTI springt über 105 Dollar, Brent über 111 Dollar – belastet von Berichten über blockierte Schiffe und angebliche Zwischenfälle nahe der Straße von Hormus. US Central Command dementiert allerdings, dass ein US-Kriegsschiff getroffen wurde. Gleichzeitig startet Trump sein „Project Freedom“, mit dem festsitzende Frachtschiffe aus Hormus herausgelotst werden sollen. Trotz starker Earnings und KI-Rückenwind bleibt der Markt damit zwischen Rekordlaune und geopolitischem Ölpreis-Schock gefangen. Ein Podcast - featured by Handelsblatt. ► Direkt an der Börse handeln mit tradegate.direct: https://bit.ly/wallstreet_april * ► Erhalte einen exklusiven 15% Rabatt auf Saily eSIM Datentarife! Lade die Saily-App herunter und benutze den Code wallstreet beim Bezahlen: https://saily.com/wallstreet * ► Entdecke den exklusiven NordVPN Deal! Jetzt risikofrei testen mit einer 30-Tage-Geld-zurück-Garantie: https://nordvpn.com/wallstreet * +++ Alle Rabattcodes und Infos zu unseren Werbepartnern findet ihr hier: https://linktr.ee/wallstreet_podcast +++ ► Mehr Einblicke: https://bit.ly/360wallstreetpc * Impressum: https://www.360wallstreet.de/impressum *Werbung

For review:1. American forces seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship after it tried to bypass a U.S. naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, President Trump said Sunday.“Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade,” the US Central Command says in a statement. 2. Vice President JD Vance will lead a U.S. delegation for another round of talks with Iran in Islamabad before the ceasefire is scheduled to end on Tuesday night, two U.S. officials tell Axios.US President Donald Trump said Sunday that talks with Iran on extending the ceasefire would resume on Tuesday, while the Islamic Republic indicated it was not planning to send a delegation and was pessimistic about the prospects of the talks.3. Iran swiftly reversed course on reopening the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, reimposing restrictions on the critical waterway after the US said it would not end its blockade of Iran-linked shipping.4. The Israeli military on Saturday confirmed carrying out several strikes in southern Lebanon over the previous day against Hezbollah operatives who “violated the ceasefire understandings,” in the first such action since the truce took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday.5. French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday said Hezbollah was responsible for the death of a French soldier in an attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, while the UN Interim Force in Lebanon blamed “non-state actors,” code for the Iran-backed terror group.6. Australia has outlined plans to boost its defense spending to three percent of its Gross Domestic Product in the coming years, while reaffirming that the US remains its closest ally and principal strategic partner.7. Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is now operating in U.S. Central Command, two defense officials confirmed to USNI News on Friday.Ford joins the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group already in CENTCOM. The move to the Red Sea comes as a third carrier strike group is approaching U.S. Central Command. USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) is transiting around the southern tip of Africa, heading to the Middle East, USNI News reported last week.8. If the US Army gets its way, it will not be buying additional M109A7 Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) howitzers next year as it looks at alternative options to fill the gap.  

Iran's military has threatened shipping in the Red Sea if the US continues its blockade of Iranian ports. The US Central Command said the blockade had “completely halted” Tehran's economic sea trade, while Iranian media reported four vessels had traveled to and from the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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PCE and inflation trends – single day concern Earnings Season – Goldman, JPM Eco Reports of historic proportion Feds looking at Private Credit holdings at banks PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm-Up - Walking back - Waffling and Extensions --- Blockade - not really - Market Immunity - Jesus.ai - Reading Retreats (The New Silent Disco?) Markets - PCE and inflation trends - single day concern - PPI revised - Earnings Season - Goldman, JPM - Historic Eco Report - Feds looking at Private Credit holdings at banks CONGRATS RORY! - back-to-Back Masters Champ - Over $250M in tour winnings Market Update - Great week for markets as Operation obliteration is postponed - - Weekend concerns and opening in the RED Monday as we get clarification - Markets somewhat immune? Looking past? - FWIW: Not much is moving thought the Straight....But who cares! ----- Markets made back all of the losses from the War! Nothing to worry about... Historic! - As of this month, we have officially hit a new historical floor. - The preliminary University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment reading for April 2026 came in at 47.6, which is the lowest recorded value in the survey's 70-plus-year history. Consumer Sentiment Fed Looking - The Federal Reserve is asking major US banks for details about their exposure to private credit due to a surge in redemptions and a rise in troubled loans in the industry. - The Fed's queries are intended to assess the level of stress in the private credit industry and the potential for it to spill over to the wider financial system. - The Treasury Department is also questioning the insurance industry about exposures to private credit, as part of a broader regulatory push to get a handle on the scale of the strains in the $1.8 trillion private credit industry. ECO - PPI - PPI: Rose 0.5% month-over-month in March, well below the 1.2% consensus expectation -  Follows a downwardly revised 0.5% increase in February (from 0.7%) Core PPI (excluding food and energy): - Increased 0.1% in March, below the 0.4% consensus expectation - Follows a downwardly revised 0.3% increase in February (from 0.5%) --- Market talk: -- -  Final demand services were unchanged, giving markets room to look through the energy-driven spike as likely temporary Meanwhile... - Dow Inc. and Exxon Mobil Corp. are among the companies boosting prices for plastics as the sector grapples with supply shocks from the US-Israeli war on Iran. - The company said Monday that it will raise prices for North American buyers of polyethylene resins — common plastics found in packaging, films and containers — through at least May, according to a document viewed by Bloomberg. - That increase includes a 30-cent-per-pound boost for April and plans for another 20-cent-per-pound hike next month, according to the notice. Blockade - President Donald Trump said the US will begin a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and threatened to retaliate in the event of Iranian resistance. -The US and Iran failed to reach a deal in direct talks in Pakistan due to differences over the nuclear issue, according to Trump. --- At first, it was a FULL blockade - then another walk-back (or is this just politics vs reality?) - The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, according to US Central Command. Goldman Earnings - Reports Q1 (Mar) earnings of $17.55 per share, $1.08 better than the FactSet Consensus of $16.47; revenues rose 14.4% year/year to $17.23 bln vs the $16.99 bln FactSet Consensus. - Net revenues in Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities were $4.01 billion, 10% lower than the first quarter of 2025, reflecting lower net revenues in FICC intermediation, due to significantly lower net revenues in interest rate products and mortgages and lower net revenues in credit products, partially offset by significantly higher net revenues in commodities and currencies. - Provisions for the first quarter of 2025 primarily reflected net provisions related to the credit card portfolio, which was transferred to held for sale in the fourth quarter of 2025. --- Goldman is cleaning up and selling off some of the credit card portfolio (Apple Card) ---- We discussed that analysts had been raising guidance for companies into the print. GS rallied 16% since March - so maybe just sell-the-news event Stocks: Earnings - Goldman Sachs downgraded Best Buy to a sell, and the stock dropped about 4% on the news. --- Goldman's view is that while Best Buy should get a short?term boost in the first quarter—helped by people pulling forward PC purchases and getting bigger tax refunds—that strength may not last. --------According to the analysts, once higher memory costs start working their way into laptop and computer prices, sales could come under pressure after Q1. Blackrock Call - Asset management giant BlackRock has raised its outlook for U.S. stocks, reasoning that contained impacts from the Iran war and strong corporate earnings will create a favorable backdrop. - With earnings season just getting underway, S&P 500 companies are expected to post a collective 12.6% profit increase for the first quarter. - But do we care what Blackrock says? Long only shop with $14T in ETFs Stocks: Monday/Tuesday -----Cruise line stocks were under pressure as higher energy costs and renewed concerns about demand came back into focus. Carnival dropped about 4%, Norwegian Cruise Line was down roughly 3%, and Royal Caribbean slid more than 2%. -----Airlines moved lower for similar reasons. Rising jet fuel prices and softer demand expectations weighed on the group, with United Airlines falling more than 2.5%, while Southwest and Delta both declined around 2%. --Tuesday - Follow through getting us at/above pre-war levels Stocks: Mattress Consolidation: - Leggett & Platt jumped about 9% after announcing it will be acquired by Somnigroup International, a bedding manufacturer. The deal is an all-stock transaction valued at roughly $2.5 billion, and it's expected to close by the end of 2026. ----Mattress Monopoly Now? Adding to  - Tempur Sealy, Mattress Firm, Dreams Stocks - Upgrades - Toll Brothers, Pultegroup — Shares of both stocks rose more than 1% after Evercore ISI upgraded the two homebuilders to outperform. - - The investment firm said it's time to buy the dip in the companies, believing the bad news is already priced in and that both Toll Brothers and Pultegroup could manage macroeconomic headwinds better than some of their peers. Pope Leo - WEAK on crime and terrible for Foreign Policy say President Trump -- Is the Pope involved in criminal /  police issues ? Jesus Update - Aside from the Jesus imagery with Trump as Jesus this weekend (Trust social post - then deleted) - At $1.99 per minute, the tech company Just Like Me is taking that concept to talk to Jesus to a new level. -----Users of the platform can join video calls with an avatar of Jesus generated by artificial intelligence. ------- Like other religious AI tools on the market, it offers words of prayer and encouragement in various languages. ----------With the occasional glitch, it remembers previous conversations and speaks through not-quite-synced lips. Reading Retreats - What it is: Paid reading retreats where people travel to quiet, upscale settings to read their own books—mostly in silence—alongside strangers. - The price: Typically $1,000+ for a long weekend, often selling out months in advance. - Why it works: People are burned out by screens and distractions and are paying for structure, silence, and protected time to focus. - Social without pressure: It offers light community—being alone together—without forced conversation or networking. - Cultural tailwinds: Fueled by BookTok, wellness travel, and nostalgia for slower, analog experiences, turning reading into a premium lifestyle activity. Of Interest - Delta Air Lines said Wednesday it will “meaningfully reduce” its capacity growth plans in the near term. AFTER BULLISH COMMENTS DAYS EARLIER - Delta joined United and JetBlue in hiking its checked bag fees this week as jet fuel costs surge. PRICE WILL NEVER COME DOWN - Delta said its fuel bill will be $2 billion higher this quarter because of the spike in costs. - The carrier also reported first-quarter earnings that beat analysts' expectations. BY THE WAY>>>>> JAYNA - AKA China - China's factory?gate prices rose 0.5%, the first increase in more than three years. -  Consumer prices increased 1% year over year in March, falling short of economists' expectations. - Gasoline prices jumped 11.1% from the prior month, even as Beijing tried to limit fuel price increases. - Economists warn the spike in input costs could lead to “bad inflation,” putting added pressure on manufacturers that are already operating with thin margins. Health Breakthrough - Revolution Medicines said its pancreatic cancer drug daraxonrasib succeeded in a Phase 3 trial. - RevMed said its drug almost doubled the typical length of survival and slashed the risk of death by 60% versus chemotherapy. - The company said it will soon seek FDA approval using a Commissioner's National Priority Voucher, which grants a quicker review. - It is a small?molecule oral oncology drug, taken as a daily pill, not chemotherapy or immunotherapy. - Stock up nicely on the news... China PPI - China's factory-gate prices rose for the first time in more than three years while consumer inflation moderated in March, amid a surge in oil prices as the Iran war upended global energy markets. - The producer price index grew 0.5% from a year earlier, the first growth since September 2022, ending the longest deflationary streak in decades. For the first quarter, the PPI fell 0.6% year on year. China PPI and CPI Intel - Intel's stock had a ninth straight winning day on Monday, up 58% over that stretch. - Shares of the semiconductor company are soaring after a series of announcements and major partnerships with Google and Elon Musk. - CPUs are seeing a resurgence as agentic artificial intelligence continues to gain traction.   Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? THE CLOSEST TO THE PIN for NETGEAR Winners will be getting great stuff like the new "OFFICIAL" DHUnplugged Shirt!     FED AND CRYPTO LIMERICKS   See this week's stock picks HERE Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter

Washington's announcement of a naval blockade targeting maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports — halting "all passage" linked to Iran — marks a new escalation in a crisis already teetering on the edge. Although the US Central Command insists that freedom of navigation for non-Iranian ports remains intact, such distinctions collapse quickly in a narrow waterway. Reports describe a near standstill in shipping.华盛顿宣布对进出伊朗港口的海上交通实施海上封锁，停止与伊朗相关的"一切通行"，标志着这场本已岌岌可危的危机出现新的升级。尽管美国中央司令部坚称，前往非伊朗港口的航行自由不受影响，但在狭窄水道中，这种区分很快便名存实亡。据报道，航运已几乎陷入停滞。The result is a paradox: a waterway Washington vowed to reopen for the world is now closed even tighter by the US itself.这种结果显然是一种悖论：美国曾誓言要为世界重新开放的航道，如今却被美国自己封锁得更加严实。This escalation comes at a delicate moment. The first round of face-to-face talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad seems to have yielded little tangible progress, despite neither side wanting, or able to afford, an indefinite conflict. That shared reluctance is the thin thread holding the current process together. It is also what makes the latest US move so counterproductive.此次升级发生在一个微妙的时刻。华盛顿与德黑兰在伊斯兰堡举行的首轮面对面会谈似乎收效甚微，尽管双方都不希望、也无力承受一场无限期的冲突。这种共同的犹豫，是维系当前进程的脆弱纽带。也正因如此，美国的最新举措显得适得其反。Washington's approach reflects a transactional style of diplomacy — one that treats geopolitical crises as high-stakes negotiations to be accelerated through pressure, unpredictability and economic leverage. In this framework, escalation is not seen for what it is — a failure of diplomacy — but a tool of it. The belief being: Apply enough pressure, be it military, financial, or psychological, and the other side will eventually succumb.华盛顿的做法反映了一种交易式外交风格——将地缘政治危机视为高风险谈判，可通过施压、不可预测性和经济杠杆加以推动。在这一框架下，冲突升级不被视为其本身所意味着的外交失败——而被视为一种外交工具。其信条是：施加足够压力，无论是军事、财政还是心理层面，对方终将屈服。There is, however, a misjudgment in this logic when applied to the Middle East. It assumes that the other side shares the same cost calculus. Tehran does not. If anything, Iran has demonstrated a greater tolerance for pain and a longer time horizon.然而，当这种逻辑被应用于中东时，却存在误判。它假定对方共享相同的成本计算方式。德黑兰却并非如此。恰恰相反，伊朗表现出更强的承受痛苦的能力和更长的时间视野。The blockade risks achieving the opposite of its intended effect. Rather than forcing a quicker deal, it hardens positions and increases the likelihood of miscalculation. Naval maneuvers in confined waters, warnings of "deadly whirlpools", and the ever-present risk of an incident spiraling out of control all point to a dangerous feedback loop.封锁可能适得其反。它不是迫使协议更快达成，反而会固化立场，增加误判的可能。在狭窄水域的海军行动、关于"致命漩涡"的警告，以及局势随时可能失控的固有风险，都指向一个危险的恶性循环。In the meantime, the outcome is not leverage but paralysis, with the global economy bracing for further shocks. As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in his meeting with the presidential special envoy of the United Arab Emirates to China in Beijing on Monday, blocking the Strait of Hormuz does not serve the common interests of the international community. Political and diplomatic means are the fundamental ways to resolve the issue and achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.与此同时，结果不是获得筹码，而是陷入瘫痪，全球经济正承受进一步的冲击。正如中国外交部长王毅周一同阿联酋总统特使在北京会晤时所言，封锁霍尔木兹海峡不符合国际社会共同利益。政治和外交手段是解决问题、实现全面持久停火的根本途径。Yet compounding the US-Iran dynamic is the role of Israel. The Israeli government has shown little enthusiasm for de-escalation, continuing operations in Lebanon. This introduces a third variable into what is already a complex negotiation process. Even if Washington and Tehran were to find common ground, actions elsewhere could have the potential to quickly unravel it.然而，以色列的角色使美伊互动更加复杂化。以色列政府并未表现出缓和局势的意愿，其在黎巴嫩的行动仍在继续。这给本已复杂的谈判进程引入了第三个变量。即便华盛顿与德黑兰有望找到共同点，其他地方的行动也可能迅速将一切瓦解。This creates an impasse. Neither the US nor Iran can fully trust the other's commitments. Add a third party with its own agenda, and the scope for misjudgment multiplies. The danger is not that diplomacy will fail outright, but that it will be repeatedly derailed. Each escalation narrowing the space for compromise.这就造成了僵局。无论是美国还是伊朗，都无法完全相信对方的承诺。再加上一个自有议程的第三方，误判的空间便成倍增加。危险不在于外交会彻底失败，而在于它将反复脱轨。每一次升级都在压缩妥协的空间。There is, however, an alternative path. The five-point initiative jointly proposed by China and Pakistan offers a framework that addresses the structural risks now on display. Its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and infrastructure, and — crucially — the safeguarding of shipping lanes speaks directly to the current crisis. Its emphasis on dialogue and the primacy of international law provides a counterweight to unilateral action.然而，还有另一条道路。中国和巴基斯坦联合提出的五点倡议提供了一个框架，可应对当前正在显现的结构性风险。倡议呼吁立即停止敌对行动、保护平民和基础设施，以及——至关重要的是——保障航运通道的安全，这直指当前危机。倡议对对话的强调和对国际法首要地位的坚持，是对单边行动的制衡。It is precisely the kind of steady, rules-based approach that is needed when brinkmanship begins to dominate. For all the talk of leverage, the reality is that neither Washington nor Tehran will be able to achieve its objectives quickly through force alone. Instead, that will further raise the eventual cost of settlement.当边缘政策开始占据主导地位时，正是需要这种稳健、基于规则的路径。尽管有关筹码的各种议论不绝于耳，现实却是华盛顿和德黑兰都无法仅靠武力迅速实现各自目标。相反，这样做只会进一步提高最终的解决成本。The Strait of Hormuz is both a symptom and a warning. When a global commons becomes a bargaining chip, temporary disruption risks becoming lasting instability. The belligerents should recognize that some levers are too important to pull. As Beijing has urged, all parties concerned should exercise calm and restraint. China stands ready to continue playing a positive and constructive role in this regard.霍尔木兹海峡既是症状，也是警示。当全球公域成为谈判筹码时，暂时的混乱就有演变为持久动荡的风险。交战双方应当认识到，有些杠杆太重要，不该轻易扳动。正如北京方面所敦促的那样，有关各方应保持冷静和克制。中方愿继续为此发挥积极和建设性作用。Diplomacy rarely delivers instant results. It requires patience, credibility and a willingness to accept imperfect outcomes. The talks in Islamabad may yet produce such an outcome — but only if they are given the space to do so.外交很少能立竿见影。它需要耐心、信誉以及接受不完美结果的意愿。伊斯兰堡的会谈或许仍能达成这样的结果——但前提是必须为其留出足够的空间。teeter /ˈtiːtər/摇摇欲坠；步履蹒跚standstill /ˈstændstɪl/停滞；停顿paradox /ˈpærədɒks/悖论；自相矛盾的情况indefinite conflict /ɪnˈdefɪnət ˈkɒnflɪkt/无限期冲突；旷日持久的冲突counterproductive /ˌkaʊntəprəˈdʌktɪv/适得其反；产生反效果succumb /səˈkʌm/屈服；屈从paralysis /pəˈræləsɪs/瘫痪；麻痹unravel /ʌnˈrævəl/瓦解；解体impasse /ˈæmpæs/僵局；死胡同

Pope Leo has said he has "no intention to debate" Donald Trump, after the US leader criticised the pontiff's comments about the war in the Middle East. The American born Pope said he had no fear of the Trump administration. He said his message remained one of peace. Also, the US military has reportedly sent a note to seafarers saying that it will enforce a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that will apply to all vessels whatever flag they are sailing under. The note from the US Central Command says that any ship entering or leaving the blockaded area without authorisation will be subject to interception, diversion and capture. Hungary's incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, has promised to usher in a new era for the country which he said became the poorest and most corrupt in Europe under his predecessor, Viktor Orban. And, how a toy designed by an eight year old boy became part of Nasa's Artemis mission.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

The US delegation, led by Vice President Vance, left US-Iran talks in Pakistan to return to the US without an agreement after 21 hours of talks.US President Trump said the US Navy will begin the process of blockading any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz.US Central Command said it will begin implementing a blockade on all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on April 13th at 17:00 Israeli time (15:00BST/10:00EDT).Crude futures surged with Brent crude back above the USD 100/bbl level following the failure of US-Iran talks in Islamabad and with the US to begin a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.APAC stocks declined; European equity futures indicate a lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 1.4%, off worst levels.Looking ahead, highlights include US Existing Home Sales (Mar), OPEC MOMR (Apr). Speakers include ECB's de Guindos, RBA's Hauser & Fed's Miran. Earnings from Goldman Sachs & LVMH.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

For review:1. The talks in Islamabad stretched into the early hours of Sunday morning following hours of marathon negotiations, even as Iran warned that Washington was making “excessive demands” over the Strait of Hormuz that could undermine Pakistan's peacemaking efforts.2. The US military said on Saturday that it had begun a mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz, with two US warships passing through the key waterway.Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of Central Command, said in a statement: “Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce.”3. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warns that any attempt by military vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz will be met with “a strong response,” saying only non-military vessels would be allowed to pass under specific regulations, the IRGC declares in a statement carried by Iranian media after the US Central Command announced two US Navy warships transited the strategic waterway to clear mines laid by Tehran.4. Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries suffered in the airstrike that killed his father at the beginning of the war, three people close to his inner circle told Reuters.5. Israel and Hezbollah traded fire throughout Saturday, with the Israel Defense Forces striking hundreds of targets in Lebanon and the Iran-backed terror group launching dozens of rockets and drones at northern Israel.6. The first in-person meeting in the expected negotiations between Israel and Lebanon will take place on Tuesday in Washington, a US official familiar with the details told The Times of Israel on Friday.7. China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, according to three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.8. The Board of Peace does not expect to receive a final approval from Hamas to its disarmament proposal by the Saturday deadline set by the international body overseeing the postwar management of Gaza, three sources familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel.9. Finland has signed a €547 million ($642 million) contract with South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace to procure 112 additional K9 self-propelled howitzers, accelerating its artillery expansion.Finnish authorities announced the government-to-government deal on Thursday, expected to bring its total K9 inventory to over 200 systems, making Finland the second-largest European operator behind Poland.

US and Iranian officials are continuing with their direct talks with Pakistan in Islamabad on bringing an end to conflict in the Middle East. The US Central Command says two American navy ships have sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, in the first such move since the war with Iran began. President Trump had earlier said Washington had started clearing mines from the waterway, a claim denied by Tehran. Also in the programme: Hungary prepares to go to the polls; and how British exceptionalism led the Cambridge five who spied to despise the people they betrayed. (Photo: Vice President JD Vance walks up a flight of stairs to meet with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for talks about Iran, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Islamabad. CREDIT: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS)

Après l'annonce de la trêve en Iran dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi, la Bourse a repris des couleurs. Dans « La Story », le podcast d'actualité des « Echos », Pierrick Fay et ses invités analysent et détaillent l'impact du conflit sur les marchés mondiaux, et les critiques qu'ont suscitées certaines opérations.« La Story » est un podcast des « Echos » présenté par Pierrick Fay. Cet épisode a été enregistré en avril 2026. Rédaction en chef : Clémence Lemaistre. Invités : Corentin Chappron (journaliste aux « Echos », spécialiste des marchés financiers) et Solveig Godeluck (correspondante des « Echos » à New York). Réalisation : Willy Ganne. Chargée de production et d'édition : Clara Grouzis. Musique : Théo Boulenger. Identité graphique : Upian. Photo : Upi/Newscom/SIPA. Sons : BFM, extrait du film « Nos jours heureux » (2006), US Central Command, extrait du film « OSS 117 : Rio ne répond plus », CNN, extrait de« TACO Trade » de Reimagined Music (parodie faite avec l'IA) et extrait du film « Le Bon, la Brute et le Truand » (1966).Retrouvez l'essentiel de l'actualité économique grâce à notre offre d'abonnement Access : abonnement.lesechos.fr Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

In Episode 473 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Captain John Konrad — founder of gCaptain, the world's most-visited maritime and offshore news website, and one of the most influential voices in commercial shipping — about what Konrad calls the Hormuz Hypothesis: a framework for understanding how the Trump administration has assembled the tools to exploit the disruption of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a broader maritime strategy and political endgame that very few in the media are discussing. The first hour lays the groundwork for that hypothesis, examining the decades-long decline of the US merchant marine and shipbuilding industrial base, why control of global maritime choke points is inseparable from national security and the dollar's role as the world's reserve currency, and how the collapse of the war risk reinsurance market following the outbreak of conflict created an acute insurance crisis for vessels transiting the Persian Gulf. They also discuss how the Trump administration responded by creating a government-backed reinsurance facility through the US International Development Finance Corporation, in coordination with the Treasury and US Central Command, and why this matters for understanding how the global economy is being reorganized — away from free trade and open capital markets, and toward one increasingly shaped by national interests, clandestine statecraft, and great power competition operating below the threshold of open military conflict. The second hour turns to the strategic logic of the Hormuz Hypothesis itself — specifically, why Konrad believes the Trump administration is in no rush to reopen the Strait and how it intends to use control over that choke point as leverage to extract concessions from Europe, China, and other actors in the international system. They examine what some of those concessions may look like, the concrete outcomes the administration is pursuing through its maritime agenda — including basing agreements, shipbuilding reform, and pushback against Chinese and UN encroachment on the global maritime order — and the cumulative fragility of the global trading network, including what a worst-case breakdown of that system could look like and what winning might realistically mean for the United States in both the short and long term. Subscribe to our premium content—including our premium feed, episode transcripts, and Intelligence Reports—by visiting HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you'd like to join the conversation and become a member of the Hidden Forces Genius community—with benefits like Q&A calls with guests, exclusive research and analysis, in-person events, and dinners—you can also sign up on our subscriber page at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you enjoyed today's episode of Hidden Forces, please support the show by: Subscribing on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, CastBox, or via our RSS Feed Writing us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Join our mailing list at https://hiddenforces.io/newsletter/ Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe and support the podcast at https://hiddenforces.io. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 03/31/2026

For review:1. The US Central Command confirms that CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper visited Israel this week and met with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.2. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush deployed Tuesday and is slated to go to the Middle East along with three destroyers, two U.S. officials said. The carrier strike group consists of more than 6,000 Sailors.3. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Iran does not have to agree to a deal to end the ongoing US-Israeli war with the Islamic Republic, as he stated that the United States will probably wrap up the war in two or three weeks.4. China and Pakistan presented on Tuesday a new initiative for ending the war in Iran that includes an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.5. Gulf allies of the United States, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are urging US President Donald Trump to continue prosecuting the war against Iran, arguing that Tehran hasn't been weakened enough by the monthlong US-Israeli bombing campaign, according to US, Gulf, and Israeli officials.6. The day after Spain announced it was closing off its airspace to US planes involved in the Iran war, senior US officials seemingly called into question a fundamental pillar of the NATO alliance: collective defense.7. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he will ask US mediators to relay his offer of an Easter truce to Russia, halting attacks on the country's energy facilities, amid an ongoing deadlock in peace talks.

Iran said it was ready to respond to a ground attack by the United States, accusing Washington on Sunday of preparing a land assault while mediation efforts were underway to resolve the crisis after a month of fighting.伊朗方面表示，已准备好应对美国发动的地面进攻。3月29日，伊朗指责称，在美国试图进行斡旋、结束双方持续一月有余的冲突之际，华盛顿方面仍在筹备地面进攻。Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of signaling openness to talks while working in secret to send in ground forces, adding that Iran was prepared if US troops were deployed.伊朗议会议长穆罕默德·巴盖尔·卡利巴夫指责美国一边释放愿意谈判的信号，一边秘密筹划派遣地面部队。他还表示，若美国出兵，伊朗已做好应对准备。"The enemy publicly sends messages of negotiation and dialogue while secretly planning a ground attack,"Ghalibaf said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.伊朗伊斯兰共和国通讯社援引卡利巴夫的一份声明称："敌人表面上传递着谈判与对话的信号，暗地里却在策划地面进攻。""As long as the Americans seek Iran's surrender, our response is that we will never accept humiliation," he said.他还表示："只要美国人妄图迫使伊朗屈服，我们的回应就是：我们绝不会接受屈辱。"It came after the arrival of some 3,500 US troops in the Middle East. The US Central Command announced on Saturday on X that a task force of marines and sailors arrived in the Middle East on Friday.此番言论发表前，约3500名美军士兵已抵达中东地区。3月28日，美国中央司令部在X平台上宣布，一支由海军陆战队员和美国水兵组成的特遣部队已于27日抵达中东。Coupled with the news is a report from The Washington Post on the same day, citing anonymous US officials, that the Pentagon was preparing options for ground operations in Iran, which would fall short of a full-scale invasion but could involve thousands of troops and take weeks or months.与此同时，《华盛顿邮报》上周六援引匿名美国官员的报道称，美国国防部正在制定针对伊朗地面行动的方案，虽不至于发动全面入侵，但可能会涉及数千名士兵，行动或持续数周甚至数月。More than 3,000 people have been killed throughout the monthlong conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf Arab states, The Associated Press reported. It has also threatened oil and gas supplies with Iran's grip on the strategic Strait of Hormuz shaking markets.据美联社报道，这场已持续一个月的冲突已造成超过3000人丧生。冲突始于美国和以色列对伊朗发动袭击，随后伊朗对以色列及海湾阿拉伯邻国展开报复性打击。同时，由于伊朗掌控着战略要地霍尔木兹海峡，市场因此剧烈动荡，石油和天然气供应也受到威胁。Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday warned anew that his country would retaliate if the infrastructure and economic centers are attacked after Tehran suffered a new wave of strikes from Israel.在伊朗遭受新一轮以色列空袭后，伊朗总统马苏德·佩泽希齐扬3月28日再次警告称，如果本国基础设施和经济中心遭到袭击，伊朗必将实施报复。Pezeshkian reiterated in a post on X that Iran "does not carry out preemptive attacks", but that Tehran "will retaliate strongly if our infrastructure or economic centers are targeted".佩泽希齐扬在X平台上重申，伊朗"不会采取先发制人的打击"，但"如果我们的基础设施或经济中心成为攻击目标，我们将予以强烈回击"。"To the countries of the region: If you want development and security, don't let our enemies run the war from your lands," he said.他呼吁："地区各国请注意：如果你们想要发展和稳定，就不要让我们的敌人从你们的土地上发动战争。"Iran fired a volley of missiles and drones at plants belonging to two of the world's largest aluminium producers in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Sunday, targeting what they described as industries linked to the US military.伊朗伊斯兰革命卫队29日表示，伊朗向巴林和阿联酋两家全球最大的铝生产商的工厂发射了多枚导弹和无人机，目标是与美军有关联的工业设施。Emirates Global Aluminium said an Iranian attack wounded six and caused significant damage to its plant, while Bahraini state media said two Aluminium Bahrain employees were injured in a second attack.阿联酋环球铝业公司称，伊朗的袭击造成6人受伤，其工厂严重受损。巴林国家通讯社表示，巴林铝业公司的两名员工在第二次袭击中受伤。The IRGC the same day also threatened to target US and Israeli universities across the Middle East after the bombing of Iran's University of Science and Technology.同日，伊斯兰革命卫队还威胁称，在伊朗科技大学遭遇轰炸后，将对中东地区的美国和以色列大学发起打击。In a statement published on Iran's Tasnim News agency, the IRGC advised all employees, professors, and students of US universities in the region, as well as residents in the surrounding areas, "to stay at least one kilometer away from the mentioned universities to protect their lives".伊斯兰革命卫队在伊朗塔斯尼姆通讯社发表的声明中，建议美国在中东地区大学的所有雇员、教授、学生以及周边地区居民，"与上述大学保持至少一公里的距离以确保生命安全"。"If the US administration wants its universities in the region not be among the two targeted for retaliation in this stage, must by 12 noon on Monday, March 30, Tehran time, issue an official statement condemning the bombing of universities," the statement read.声明称："如果美国政府希望其在该地区的大学不在本轮报复行动的两个打击目标之列，就必须在德黑兰时间3月30日周一中午12点前发表官方声明，谴责对大学的轰炸。""And if it wants its universities in the region to not be hit thereafter, it must prevent its savage allied forces from attacking universities and research centers; otherwise, the threat remains valid and will be carried out," The IRGC added.伊斯兰革命卫队补充道："如果美方希望其在该地区的大学此后免受打击，就必须阻止其野蛮的盟军力量袭击大学和研究中心。否则，这一威胁依然有效，并将付诸实施。"Across the region on Sunday, the United Arab Emirates activated its air defense and reported the interception of missiles and drones. Sirens were activated in Kuwait and Bahrain, while Saudi Arabia has intercepted 10 drones.3月29日，阿联酋在全境启动防空系统，并报告成功拦截了导弹和无人机。科威特和巴林拉响防空警报，沙特阿拉伯则拦截了10架无人机。Widening conflict冲突扩大As the specter of a widening conflict grew, Yemen's Houthis on Saturday claimed their first attack of the war, firing "a barrage of cruise missiles and drones" at strategic sites in Israel.冲突扩大阴影下，也门胡塞武装上周六宣称对以色列战略目标发动了"一波巡航导弹和无人机袭击"，这是该组织在本次冲突中首次宣称发动袭击。Meanwhile, foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye were gathering in Islamabad on Sunday to hold talks in an effort to de-escalate tensions in the region. They are expected to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.与此同时，埃及、沙特阿拉伯和土耳其三国外长上周日齐聚伊斯兰堡举行会谈，以期缓和地区紧张局势。预计他们将与巴基斯坦总理夏巴兹·谢里夫会面。The four-way meeting between the top diplomats of the Muslim nations was slated to discuss "a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region", Pakistan's foreign ministry has said.巴基斯坦外交部表示，这三个穆斯林国家的高级外交官计划举行四方会议，讨论"一系列问题，包括缓和地区紧张局势的努力"。Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said he and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held "extensive discussions" on regional hostilities.巴基斯坦总理夏巴兹·谢里夫上周六表示，他与伊朗总统马苏德·佩泽希齐扬就地区冲突问题进行了"广泛讨论"。In a post on X, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said it was great news that Iran "has agreed to allow 20 more ships under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz; two ships will cross the Strait daily".巴基斯坦副总理兼外交部长伊沙克·达尔在X平台上发帖称，伊朗"已同意再允许20艘悬挂巴基斯坦国旗的船只通过霍尔木兹海峡，每天将有2艘船只穿越该海峡"，这是个好消息。"This is a welcome and constructive gesture by Iran and deserves appreciation. It is a harbinger of peace and will help usher stability in the region. This positive announcement marks a meaningful step toward peace and will strengthen our collective efforts in that direction," said Dar.达尔表示："这是伊朗值得欢迎的建设性姿态，值得赞赏。这是和平的预兆，有助于为该地区带来稳定。这一积极声明标志着朝着和平迈出了有意义的一步，并将加强我们在这方面的集体努力。""Dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward," he added.他补充说："对话、外交以及此类建立信任措施，才是唯一的出路。"Arhama Siddiqa, a research fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad in Pakistan, told China Daily that the quadrilateral engagement in Islamabad "carries measured but not decisive significance in the current escalation cycle".巴基斯坦伊斯兰堡战略研究所研究员阿尔哈马·西迪卡告诉《中国日报》，在伊斯兰堡举行的四方会谈"在当前冲突升级的背景下具有有限但并非决定性的意义"。On one hand, she said the presence of senior diplomats from regional middle powers "signals a coordinated attempt to create a diplomatic off-ramp at a moment when the situation risks further militarization, especially with the forward positioning of US troops".她表示，一方面，地区中等强国的资深外交官出席会议"表明各方正协调行动，试图在当前局势面临进一步军事化风险、尤其是美军前沿部署的情况下，寻找外交解决的途径"。However, the limited impact of prior calls for restraint reflects a structural reality: regional actors possess influence, but not decisive leverage over the core drivers of escalation, according to Siddiqa.然而，西迪卡认为，此前各方呼吁保持克制的努力效果有限，反映出结构性现实：地区行为体虽具影响力，但对冲突升级的核心驱动力缺乏决定性制约能力。"So honestly, the Islamabad meeting should be viewed less as an immediate de-escalation mechanism and more as an effort to consolidate a regional consensus that could, over time, constrain further escalation and reintroduce diplomatic channels into an otherwise rapidly hardening security environment," she added.她补充道："因此，坦率地说，伊斯兰堡会议不应被视作直接降温机制，而更应被看作巩固地区共识的努力，这种共识或可随着时间推移，进一步限制局势升级，并在迅速硬化的安全环境中重新引入外交渠道。"Pentagon /ˈpentəɡən/五角大楼（美国国防部）reiterated /riˈɪtəreɪtɪd/重申preemptive /priˈemptɪv/先发制人的interception /ˌɪntərˈsepʃən/拦截cruise missile /ˈkruːz ˈmɪsaɪl/巡航导弹harbinger /ˈhɑːrbɪndʒər/预兆

From robots to slopaganda. This week in China is A LOT!Go to http://thechinashow.threadless.com TO GET 'HAND MACHINE GHOST' - The special re-release is very limited! Go see our secret show every Monday on Patreon - http://patreon.com/advpodcasts - join at the $10 or $20 tier Laowhy86 video - https://youtu.be/VnAy_QWR8bI?si=9taF1Lcl25i6KgkZJordan Harbinger interview - Jordan Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3hWfyy2Bh0https://www.jordanharbinger.com/laowhy86-decoding-the-secret-slang-of-chinas-censored-internet/Cartoon feat. Jüri Pootsmann - I Remember Uhttps://soundcloud.com/nocopyrightsoundsTrack : Cartoon feat. Jüri Pootsmann - I Remember USome Sources - https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/chinese-national-and-two-us-citizens-charged-conspiring-smuggle-artificial-intelligencehttps://www.newsweek.com/macdill-air-force-base-explosive-device-brother-flees-china-charged-11742362https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347595/heartwarming-tale-7-china-dogs-escape-captivity-garners-230-million-views-onlinehttps://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-stations-jets-turned-drones-bases-near-taiwan-strait-report-says-2026-03-27/https://nypost.com/2026/03/26/us-news/stanford-student-reveals-sick-way-ccp-stalked-her-for-years/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tim, Phil, and Ian are joined by Stella Escobedo to discuss a US military base attacked by suspected Chinese siblings, Trump is reviving the Petrodollar, Iran warns 1 million soldiers are ready, Candace Owens attacks Nick Shirley, and the Olympics bans trans people in women's sports.  SUPPORT THE SHOW BUY CAST BREW COFFEE NOW - https://castbrew.com/ Join -    / @timcastirl   Hosts:  Tim @Timcast (everywhere) Phil @PhilThatRemains (X) | https://allthatremains.komi.io/ Ian @IanCrossland (everywhere) | https://graphene.movie/ Producer: Carter @carterbanks (X) |  @trashhouserecords  (YT) Guest:  Stella Escobedo @StellaEscoTV (X) Podcast available on all podcast platforms! Chinese "Spies" Indicted For Attempted BOMBING Of US Central Command, WW3 | Timcast IRL For advertising inquiries please email sponsorships@rumble.com

For review:1. The U.S. military is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in the coming days, according to three people with knowledge of the plans.2. Chief of the US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, says the American military has struck over 10,000 targets in Iran since the start of the war, as part of which it destroyed two-thirds of the regime's military production facilities.3. Iran has been laying traps and moving additional military personnel and air defenses to Kharg Island in recent weeks in preparation for a possible US operation to take control of the island, according to multiple people familiar with US intelligence reporting on the issue.4. Iranian officials on Wednesday gave a cold reception to the current US proposal to reach a ceasefire, as the White House warned Tehran it would be hit harder than before if it did not accept the offer to end the conflict.5. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem purportedly said Wednesday that negotiating with Israel under fire would amount to “surrender” for Lebanon, and urged the government to reverse its ban on the party's military activities.Mr. Qassem called on the Lebanese people to embrace “national unity,” saying this could be achieved by the government reversing its decision to ban Hezbollah's military activities.6. Lebanon's foreign ministry said Tuesday it had withdrawn the accreditation of Iran's ambassador, giving him until Sunday to leave the country.7. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Israel will maintain control of a “security zone” in southern Lebanon, up to the Litani River, until the threat of Hezbollah is removed.8. Airstrikes in Iraq killed 15 members of Iraq's umbrella group for Iran-backed Shiite militia on Tuesday, the deadliest attack on the group since the Iran war began.9. Recent Israeli airstrikes off the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea targeted a key shipping route used by Iran and Russia for the exporting and importing of weapons, including those used by Moscow in its war on Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.10. The United States has tied its offer of security guarantees for a Ukraine peace deal to Kyiv's giving up its entire eastern Donbas region to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday.

According to the Wall Street Journal, more U.S. Marines are headed to the Middle East. They are from the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. They are a rapid-response force of 2,200 Marines. The President is said to be considering whether to send even more troops to Operation Epic Fury. As of today, US Central Command says there are about 50,000 US troops already in the Middle East as part of Trump's war with Iran. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is looking to get $200-Billion to fund Trump's so called “excursion.” We'll talk about it with Michael Shure and Mo Kelly as we recap the biggest stories of the week with This Week in Politics. Doctor of Physical Therapy, Adam James, returns to shed more light on Trump's faltering health. A quick stop by Florida and a check of the latest movies with The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, sweeps us right into a beautiful weekend.

The day after the US began bombing Iran, US Central Command confirmed it had used a new, cheap type of kamikaze drone called a Lucas for the first time in a combat operation. These drones were made in America, but their roots actually lie in Iran – they are reverse engineered copies of an Iranian drone called a Shahed that the Russians have also been using to bomb Ukraine.In this episode, PhD researcher and military expert Arun Dawson at King's College London explains how the Iranians developed the Shaheds, why the US decided to copy them, and what role these low-cost drones might play in the future of warfare.This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware was the executive producer. Mixing by Eleanor Brezzi and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Read the full credits for this episode and sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.If you like the show, please consider donating to The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit news organisation.Not just Patriot interceptors: A defense expert explains the various weapons US and allies use to defend against missiles and dronesDrones over Ukraine: What the war means for the future of remotely piloted aircraft in combatIran war shows how AI speeds up military ‘kill chains'The US is using repurposed Iranian drone technology to attack Iran – a military expert explains whyMentioned in this episode:The Making of an AutocratSearch "The Conversation Weekly" for our new series: The Making of an Autocrat. Is America watching its democracy unravel in real time? In The Making of an Autocrat from The Conversation, six of the world's pre-eminant scholars reveal the recipe for authoritarian rule. From capturing a party, to controlling the military, Donald Trump is borrowing from the playbook of strongmen thoughout history. This is the story of how democracies falter — and what might happen next.

Today on Uncommon Sense, we're continuing the Iran conversation, but we're also asking the question few seem to want to ask: what are we being distracted from?While the media is locked in on war, escalation, and fear, the Epstein files are still sitting there exposing some of the darkest, most evil behavior from people in power… and suddenly it feels like no one's talking about it.Convenient.In Part 2, I break down why I still firmly oppose U.S. involvement in this Iran war, revisit warnings from voices like Charlie Kirk, and explain why this all feels like a massive shift in focus at a very “strategic” time.Because we've seen this pattern before.Chaos rises… and accountability disappears.But this episode is not just about their sins.It's about ours too.It's easy to sit back and be outraged at elites, politicians, and global leaders (and our outrage is justified)… but how often are we actually examining our own lives?Our own behavior?Our own sin?Because we need to be willing to confront what's wrong within us, too.So today we're talking about:Why this Iran conflict deserves serious skepticism from EVERYONEHow the Epstein revelations are being overshadowed (and intentionally so)Why distraction is one of the most powerful tools in politicsAnd why repentance is crucialWe don't fix a broken world by ignoring our own brokenness.This is a call to wake up to what our rulers are actually doing, but also a call to look inward.Be aware. Be discerning. But most importantly—be honest with yourself and others.Because real accountability starts there.--https://www.bible.com/

Donald Trump has said he is "not happy" with the UK and blasted several other nations after his calls for help went unanswered. As the Iran war heads into its 18th day attacks haven't let up in the region; US Central Command says it's struck 7,000 Iranian targets and damaged more than 100 ships. Iran has continued retaliatory attacks against Israel and across the Middle East. Washington DC correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

For review:1.Two oil tankers were struck in the Gulf, killing one person, as Iran continued its attacks on targets across the region and the IDF reported hitting a “critical” nuclear site near Tehran, amid ongoing US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.2. Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has yet to appear in public, ostensibly vowed on Thursday to avenge the deaths since the start of the war with the US and Israel, in a statement read out by a presenter on state TV.3. UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a Bahrain-led resolution condemning Iranian attacks on several regional states, while a separate draft resolution introduced by Russia on the wider crisis failed to pass.4. Spain permanently withdrew its ambassador to Israel on Wednesday as a diplomatic standoff worsened between the two countries over Spain's opposition to Israeli policies.Israel's embassy in Spain is also run by a charge d'affaires after Israel in May 2024 recalled its ambassador, Rodica Radian-Gordon, in protest of Spain's decision to recognize a Palestinian state.5. Israel and the US appeared Wednesday to be increasingly at odds over the time frame for the war with Iran, with US President Donald Trump saying the conflict would end “soon” as there was “practically nothing left to target” and Israel's defense minister meanwhile insisting there was no time limit to the US-Israeli operation against Iran.6. There is no guarantee that the Iranian people will rise up after Israel “creates the conditions” for them to topple the regime in Tehran, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.“You can lead someone to water, you cannot make him drink,” says PM Netanyahu. “We will create optimal conditions to do this, including airstrikes as we did yesterday, as we are doing these days, to try to give them the space needed to take to the streets.”7. The IDF said it continued to strike key strategic targets across Iran, while the US military said it had struck around 6,000 targets since the start of the war. Among the targets hit by US forces were more than 90 Iranian vessels — around 60 ships and 30 minelayers — according to US Central Command, Targets struck by Israel included members of Iran's Basij paramilitary force as well as its drone operations and capabilities.8. At least 25 Iranian attacks have targeted US sites or locations housing American military personnel in the Middle East since the start of the war, according to an AFP analysis.Of Iran's attacks, recorded between February 28 and March 11 at 5 p.m. in Israel, four targeted US embassies or consulates in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq.The other 21 Iranian missiles or drone attacks targeted 13 different military sites housing American personnel.9. The US Central Command on Thursday said a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq in an apparent accident involving another tanker.“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing. Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely,” CENTCOM said in a statement.10. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday he has warned Lebanon that if it does not stop the Hezbollah terror group's continuing rocket and drone attacks, Israel will “take the territory and do it ourselves.”On Wednesday, Hezbollah launched some 200 rockets and around 20 drones at Israel over a period of several hours. The vast majority of the rockets were intercepted or struck open areas. 11. The International Energy Agency agreed Wednesday to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the effects on energy markets of the war in the Middle East.The Paris-based organization said it will make 400 million barrels of oil available from its members' emergency reserves 

Today on Uncommon Sense, we're tackling the war with Iran that President Donald Trump has pulled the United States into and why I believe Americans should be questioning it.I'll break down why this conflict is happening, why many conservatives who usually support Trump are uneasy about it, and why voices like Charlie Kirk also warned against the United States being dragged into another Middle Eastern war.We'll talk about the geopolitical forces behind this conflict, including the role of Benjamin Netanyahu and the long-discussed concept of “Greater Israel”—the idea of expanding Israel's regional dominance and influence.Is this really about American security?Or are we once again risking American lives, money, and stability for foreign interests and endless wars overseas?Today I'm breaking down the politics, the narratives, and why I believe America should be extremely cautious about where this conflict is heading, because it is most likely (unfortunately) the start of WWIII.--https://www.bible.com/

For review:1.The Swedish Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, published its global arms export and import report on Monday, comparing the arms exports of various countries in the years 2016–2020 to 2021–2025.2. Kurdish rebels say they are ready to fight the Islamic Republic, but hope for an uprising before they intervene, with or without US support.3. In a press conference at the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Tuesday would be “the most intense day of strikes” on Iran. “The most fighters, the most bombers, the most intelligence, more defined and better than ever.”At the same time, he said, the last 24 hours saw the lowest number of missiles Iran has fired over the course of one day in the ongoing campaign.4. The US military said it destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the key waterway, through which roughly a fifth of global oil shipments travel.“US forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,” the US Central Command wrote on X.5. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Tuesday that Israel was not seeking an “endless war” in Iran, while hosting German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Jerusalem.While declining to give a timeline for the operation, Mr. Sa'ar said Jerusalem does not aim to continue the conflict indefinitely and would coordinate with Washington on when to end the fighting.6. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday his country would keep fighting as long as necessary, casting doubt on US President Donald Trump's insistence the previous day that the conflict would be over “soon.”And the Islamic Republic's security chief, Ali Larijani, dismissed Trump's “empty” threats, insisting that the people of Iran did not fear them.7. About half of the roughly 300 ballistic missiles Iran has launched at Israel in the current war carried cluster bomb warheads, according to Israel Defense Forces assessments published Tuesday.8. British warplanes have begun “defensive air sorties” in support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and taken out drones elsewhere in the Middle East amid the ongoing war, the UK defense ministry says.More US B-52 bombers landed at the UK air force base in Fairford, in southwestern England, today, AFP witnessed, after a first one landed on Friday.9. Saudi Arabia says that it has intercepted seven ballistic missiles in separate attacks targeting an airbase and its eastern region.10. The IDF says it has launched a wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut's southern suburbs.The strikes come after the military on Tuesday reiterated its warning to evacuate the area, a Hezbollah stronghold known as the Dahiyeh.

The US Defense Secretary has said that fire power over Iran is about to surge dramatically. Pete Hegseth was speaking at a joint press conference with the head US Central Command, as Operation Epic Fury heads into its seventh day. Admiral Brad Cooper said US combat power is building. Its bomber force has struck nearly 200 targets, including ballistic missile launchers deep inside of Iran. Dr John Battersby, a Senior Fellow at Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies spoke to Lisa Owen.

General Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie Jr,  USMC (ret.), commanded US Central Command from 2019-2022. Gen. McKenzie led a distinguished 42 year career in the US Marine Corps, commanding at multiple levels and serving on the Joint Staff. In this in-depth conversation, General McKenzie shares his insights on the recent U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, strategic mistakes by Iran, and the prospects for regime change. He gives a full breakdown of Iran's military capabilities, regional dynamics, and possible future scenarios. ▪️ Times 03:45 Iranian response  07:40 Ballistic missiles      19:06 Defeating drones 22:20 Soleimani 30:31 Iranian miscalculation  32:48 War was never inevitable   36:18 Outcomes Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

War secretary Pete Hegseth goes on the offensive, saying Operation Epic Fury is not a fair fight - and America will show no mercy. Also in The Front’s afternoon headlines, more stranded Australians make their way home from the Gulf. Follow our Middle East live blog here Read more of our coverage on the Middle East: Carney trip long on symbolism, short on substance If at first you don’t succeed, die, die again Decisive, devastating and without mercy: Hegseth’s update on crushing Iran Canadian PM Mark Carney urges new ‘trusted coalitions’ across critical minerals, defence, AI Iran regime removal will cut global antisemitism, Ryvchin saysSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost 2,000 targets in Iran have been hit by the US in the first four days of the war. US Central Command says it has severely degraded the country's air defences and destroyed hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers and drones. People in Iran, where the death toll is nearing 800, and across the Middle East are anxiously waiting for a resolution to the conflict. But US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the war must now take its course, without clarifying what the end goal is. Is America's war about the nuclear issue, the proxy project or even regime change? Some US politicians have expressed confusion over what the Trump administration's justification is for launching this conflict alongside Israel. In this update report for Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher looks at the US objectives in Iran and discusses the latest developments across the region.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Rockets and drones launched from Lebanon set sirens blaring across northern Israel in the early hours of Monday, as the Hezbollah terror group entered the fray to assist its backer, Iran, after the killing of the supreme leader. Fabian describes how this strike from the terror group has allowed the IDF to add Hezbollah heads to an ongoing campaign to decapitate the leadership of Iran. Nine people were killed and more than 40 were injured when a missile destroyed a Beit Shemesh synagogue and caused extensive damage to a public bomb shelter beneath it, as well as surrounding homes. Fabian explains what we know about the failure to down this missile and why the impact was so deadly. Three American soldiers have been killed, and five have been seriously wounded in the ongoing conflict with Iran, the US Central Command said Sunday, announcing the first US casualties in the conflict. We also learn how a strike on a UK base in Cyprus has potentially changed its willingness to aid the effort against Iran. Fabian turns back to 8:10 a.m. on Saturday and explores how the conflict began. Israeli Air Force fighter jets have dropped over 2,000 bombs in strikes against hundreds of Iranian regime targets and military sites since the start of the war with the Islamic Republic on Saturday morning. How does this compare with the June 12-day war? And finally, as Purim is set to begin this evening for most of the Jewish world, are Israelis allowed to gather for the reading of the Book of Esther? Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: IDF strikes in Beirut after Hezbollah enters fray and fires rockets, drones at north Four of the 9 victims of Iranian missile strike on Beit Shemesh named by authorities 9 killed as Iranian missile destroys synagogue, smashes bomb shelter in Beit Shemesh ‘Everything is gone’: Deadly Iranian strike on Beit Shemesh leaves residents reeling 3 American soldiers killed, 5 seriously injured in war with Iran — US military Drone hit British military base in Cyprus, local and UK officials say IDF: Over 2,000 bombs dropped on Iran in 30 hours, air supremacy achieved on 1st day Trump says he’s agreed to talk to Iran’s leaders, but estimates operation will take weeks Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Adina Karpuj. IMAGE: Hezbollah supporters wave their group's flags and an Iranian national flag during a protest in Beirut, Lebanon, February 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Kuwait City, Bahrain and Jeddah are all under attack as Iran’s desperate regime fires drones and missiles at its neighbours across the Persian Gulf: punishment for hosting American forces as Donald Trump’s Operation Epic Fury continues to pound Iran’s territory and assets, sinking at least half of the Iranian navy fleet alone. Follow our live blog here. Read more on this developing story: Australian mosques, organisations slammed for events honouring ‘martyrdom’ of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Conflict spreads as Hezbollah weighs in, ‘drone strike’ on British base in Cyprus, new Israeli salvo Trump says he has fulfilled his promise to the Iranian people, but the rest is up to them Ayatollah’s son or ‘Iranian Putin’ could step into power A weakened Iran will have ripple effects across the Middle East See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For review:Operation Epic Fury / Roaring Lion Continues.1. Three American soldiers have been killed, and five have been seriously wounded in the ongoing conflict with Iran, the US Central Command said Sunday, announcing the first US casualties in the conflict.2. The United States and Israel clashed with Iran at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Saturday as the United Nations chief led calls for a halt to attacks by either side and a return to negotiations to prevent the conflict from spreading further.3. China, Russia and North Korea condemned the news that Iran's notorious strongman Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed an Israeli airstrike, as did Iranian proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.4. As outlined in its constitution, Iran on Sunday formed a council to assume leadership duties and govern the country, while the process to select a new Supreme Leader begins.The council is made up of Iran's sitting president, the head of the country's judiciary, and a member of the Guardian Council chosen by Iran's Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader and settles disputes with parliament.5. Israeli and American authorities spent weeks tracking the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sharing information that allowed the strikes to be carried out in a surprise daylight attack, according to an Israeli military official and a person familiar with the operation.6. US President Donald Trump threatened early Sunday morning to hit Iran with unprecedented force after Tehran warned it would step up attacks in retaliation for the killing of its supreme leader and fired successive volleys of rockets at Israel for a second consecutive day Sunday.7. Israeli Air Force fighter jets have dropped over 2,000 bombs in strikes against hundreds of Iranian regime targets and military sites since the start of the conflict with the Islamic Republic on Saturday morning, the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday.The amount of munitions dropped on targets in Iran over the first 30 hours of the conflict was around half of what the IAF said it used over the entire course of the 12-day war in June 2025.8. The warhead of an Iranian missile hit a site just several dozen meters from the Old City of Jerusalem, and just several hundred meters from the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, during the course of Saturday, police announced on Sunday.9. Lebanon's Hezbollah terror group claims responsibility for firing rockets at northern Israel tonight for the first time since the November 2024 Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.10. Lebanese and Arabic news outlets report Israeli strikes in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, after several rockets were fired at northern Israel earlier tonight.Lebanese security sources tell Reuters that at least one target in Beirut's southern suburbs was hit in the strikes.There is no immediate comment from the IDF.11. US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he would “be talking” with Iran's leaders at their request, even as he continued to call on “Iranian patriots” to seize the moment created by the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei the previous day and topple the regime.12. Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's National Security Council, is seeking to return to the negotiating table with the United States, less than two days after the start of a coordinated assault on Iran by the US and Israel, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing US and Arab officials familiar with the matter.According to the report, Larijani reached out to the US through Omani mediators to see about resuming negotiations.

It's Tuesday, February 17th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson and Timothy Reed 90,000 Nigerians displaced due to Islamic violence More than 90,000 Catholic Nigerians have been displaced in the Southern Taraba State since September 2025, reports International Christian Concern. According to the Catholic Diocese of Wukari, over 100 people have been killed and thousands more wounded in that same time frame. U.S. funds United Nations, Dept of Ed, and Nat'l Institutes of Health The Trump administration is still funding the United Nations.  President Donald Trump approved another $3 billion dollars to the international organization in early February, according to Reuters.  The U.S. has averaged $2.5 billion dollars of funding each year for the United Nations, over the last twenty years.  America joined the United Nations back in 1945, and is its largest donor.  And, despite vowing to close down the U.S. Department of Education during his campaign, the president has signed a government funding bill that will jack up the Education Department budget 2025 levels by $217 million for a total of $79 billion. That's $12 billion more than the administration's original request. Plus, the National Institutes of Health gets another increase of $415 million over Fiscal Year 2025. In total, $48.7 billion of taxpayer money will keep this bureaucracy alive and flourishing. Republican states take action to cut property taxes Several Republican-majority states are working to reduce and eliminate property taxes for citizens. North Dakota, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, and Texas have made progress. Plus, Tennesseans will consider a ballot measure this November to eliminate the property tax. Several states are also working to trim or fully end state income taxes, with nine states having zero income tax in 2026.  One-third of young women call themselves homosexual or transgender The Gallup polling organization released new numbers on Americans identifying with a list of sexual perversions.   Now, 9% of U.S. adults call themselves sexually perverted, up from 7% in 2023, and 3.5% in 2012. The increase has occurred with the younger generation primarily. Now, almost a quarter of 20-somethings and roughly one-third of young women call themselves homosexual or transgender. Also, 10% of the 30 to 49-year-olds claim these perverse identities. Transgender murderers kill at 10 times rate of general population As The Worldview reported on February 12, the mass murderer held responsible for perpetrating Canada's worst school shooting in recent history was a man pretending to be a woman, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Jesse Van Rootselaar killed his mother and seven others, and wounded 27, before killing himself in the massacre in a remote town in British Columbia. Another man pretending to be a woman, Robert Westman, was the perpetrator at the Annunciation Catholic School shooting last August. At least five other mass-casualty shootings are attributed to men and women attempting to change their gender. That includes the Aberdeen, Maryland Rite Aid shooting, the STEM School killings in Denver, Colorado, the Club Q massacre in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the Covenant School massacre in Nashville, Tennessee. Also, the Iowa Perry High School perpetrator appeared to be pushing the transgender agenda. A recent study from National Review found that transgender suspects participate in mass shootings at a rate of 10 times that of the rest of the population. Alabama's Governor signs Child Predator Death Penalty Act Alabama Republican Governor Kay Ivey signed the Child Predator Death Penalty Act into law late last week, reports WVTM13.  This law assigns the death penalty to crimes of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, and first-degree sexual assault of victims under age 12. Biblical law assigns a serious penalty to those who kidnap or seize people against their will. Exodus 21:16 says, “Now one who kidnaps someone, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall certainly be put to death.” Kansas governor vetoes law to keep boys out of girls spaces Kansas Democratic Governor Laura Kelly  vetoed a bill passed by the Kansas legislature that would have kept biological males out of women's bathrooms.  The bill would have prosecuted any men, pretending to be women, who trespass in women's spaces, on repeated offenses. Hopefully, the state legislature will override the veto, given that the Republican Party holds a two-thirds majority in both houses.   So far, 20 states have passed laws that ban men from invading women's spaces. Proverbs 17:13 reminds us, “Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.” Puerto Rico affirms value of human life from conception Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón  signed a bill that affirms the humanity and dignity of an unborn child, from the moment of conception.   Governor González-Colón said the bill “classifies as first-degree murder the intentional and knowing killing of a pregnant woman, resulting in the death of the unborn child at any stage of gestation within the mother's womb.” This was passed mainly for purposes of homicide and criminal law. While this personhood law does not automatically ban abortion outright in Puerto Rico, pro-lifers are hopeful it will pave the way for future legal protections of unborn babies. 47% of Americans think visitors from other planets have visited Earth  (theme from the movie E.T.) Interest in extraterrestrials and UFOs is at an all-time high in the United States. A “Yougov” survey found 47% of Americans believe extraterrestrials have visited the Earth. Former President Barack Obama says ET's probably exist. But he clarified on Instagram that, “I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us.” Pokemon card sells for $16 million And finally, a trading card has netted the highest private sale amount in history.  A Pokeman card took in over $16 million over the weekend. That beats the last world record sale of a 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card, which sold for $12.6 million in 2022. There were only 41 of this particular Pokemon card produced in 1998. That compares to 75 billion Pokemon cards printed in 2025. Pokeman is a game wherein the players play-act the harnessing of the power wielded by demons or monsters. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, February 17th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ. Extra print stories United States military strikes ISIS in Syria The US military conducted strikes on more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria since the beginning of February.  According to US Central Command, or CENTCOM, the attacks "struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage targets with precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft." CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper said, “Striking these targets demonstrates our continued focus and resolve for preventing an ISIS resurgence in Syria. Operating in coordination with coalition and partner forces to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS makes America, the region and the world safer."  More than 50 ISIS terrorists have reportedly been killed in the past couple of months by the United States military. Tensions remain high between the US and the Middle East, with all eyes on potential military action in Iran.  US House passes SAVE Act The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act requiring those who vote in American elections to provide proof of citizenship. The bill passed 218-213, with every House Republican voting in favor of the measure. Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar also crossed the aisle to vote for the law. The law is touted by Republicans as a simple way to secure American elections and to eliminate cheating and foreign influence. Americans also overwhelmingly favor the requirement of a photo ID to cast a vote. However, the bill faces a hard road in the Senate, with Republicans holding only 53 seats, but needing 60 votes to pass the SAVE Act. Psalm 67:4 says, “O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon Earth.”

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) The partial US government shutdown ended late Tuesday after President Trump signed into law a funding deal he negotiated with Senate Democrats, overcoming opposition from both ends of the political spectrum amid a standoff over his administration’s immigration crackdown. Trump applauded the funding package as “a great victory for the American people” and stressed that the legislation continues to fund deportation flights, which have provoked backlash from Democrats. Still, a more limited funding lapse looms within days since the Department of Homeland Security is only funded through Feb. 13 while Trump negotiates with Democrats over their demands for new restraints on immigration enforcement agents. The rest of the government is funded through the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year.2) Iran has asked the US to move diplomatic talks originally planned for Turkey to Oman and to limit the agenda to the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, according to people familiar with the matter. President Trump reiterated that the US and Iran are maintaining talks, even after an earlier skirmish in the Arabian Sea spooked oil markets amid heightened tensions between the two countries. “We are negotiating with them right now” and “they’d like to do something,” Trump told reporters at the White House Tuesday. Earlier Tuesday, a US F-35C warplane shot down a drone in self-defense as the unmanned aircraft “aggressively approached” the USS Abraham Lincoln with “unclear intent,” US Central Command said in a statement. CentCom said no American service members were harmed and no US equipment was damaged.3) Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will appear before a House committee investigating their ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein on Feb. 26 and 27, the panel confirmed Tuesday. A full House vote had been planned this week to hold the Clintons in criminal contempt if they continued to defy subpoenas in its inquiry into Epstein and his activities. The Clintons “have agreed to appear for transcribed, filmed depositions to face questioning as part of the investigation related to Jeffrey Epstein’s and Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes,” the committee said in a statement posted on its website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India's exports to get further boost: Sitharaman on U.S. tariff cut announcement Jaishankar, Rubio ‘welcome' India-US trade deal, hold talks on critical minerals in Washington An Iranian drone approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea was shot down by an United States Navy fighter jet on Tuesday, US Central Command said. It has been over a month since a 27-year-old software engineer drowned after his car fell into an unsecured water-filled excavation pit in Noida's Sector 150 area.  'Dhurandhar' continues to break box-office records. On the day the teaser of the second part of the film was released, part 1 crossed a huge milestone by surpassing 40 million (4 crore) footfalls across India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For review:1. Commander of the United States Central Command Adm. Brad Cooper is expected to arrive in Israel on Saturday for meetings with senior officials.2. Air France and Dutch airline KLM have canceled flights to Israel, Dubai and Saudi Arabia until at least Sunday, citing “security tensions in the region” amid concern of renewed conflict with Iran.3. Iran's foreign minister launched a furious tirade on Friday against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the latter commented in Davos that the deadly crackdown on protests in the Islamic Republic showed that if authorities “kill enough people,” they stay in power.4. US - Russia - Ukraine Tri-Lateral Talks in Abu Dhabi.5. Latvia's government has approved the planned purchase of Archer 155 mm self-propelled howitzers for the country's armed forces.6. Pentagon leadership has made “no decision” yet about a potential reorganization that would affect the future of US Africa Command.In December The Washington Post reported that the Defense Department was weighing a significant reorganization of the combatant commands that could see AFRICOM subsumed with US Central Command and US European Command under a new US International Command. 7. The Pentagon's unclassified version of the National Defense Strategy places the homeland as the department's number one priority above the Indo-Pacific.The top four priorities for the Pentagon, as ordered by the NDS, are: Defend the US homeland; Deter China in the Indo-Pacific “through strength, not confrontation”; Increase burden-sharing with US allies and partners; & “Supercharge” the US Defense industrial base8. Armor Not Dead: The Army is rolling out four prototypes of the M1E3 to a platoon this summer — five years earlier than the service initially planned, the Army Chief of Staff said. 

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Following Iran's foreign minister's direct threat against the US, Fabian reports on the buildup of potential US offensive and defensive firepower in the region, including an aircraft carrier and fighter jet squadrons. As the IDF continues its nearly daily strikes against Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, Fabian discusses Israel's tacit agreement with the US that allows it to act against anything it considers an immediate threat, and the Lebanese government's ongoing efforts to disarm Hezbollah. The IDF reported a 27% rise in settler violence in the West Bank in 2025, says Fabian, who breaks down elements of the report, including the rise in the severity of the settler attacks alongside the decrease in Palestinian terrorism, attributed to the army's sustained offensive activity against terror cells. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US Central Command announces arrival of F-15 squadron in Mideast amid tensions with Iran IDF: Settler violence rose by 27% in 2025, severe attacks spiked by over 50% IDF targets Hezbollah tunnels, rocket launch sites in Lebanon Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: In this Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, photo made available by U.S. Navy, a helicopter lifts off of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as it transits the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln sent to the Mideast in May over tensions with Iran transited the narrow Strait of Hormuz for the first time on Tuesday. The ship previously had been in the Arabian Sea outside of the Persian Gulf. (Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Stephanie Contreras/U.S. Navy via AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darrell Castle talks about Iran today and exploring the possibilities for changing the regime there from one run by Islamic fundamentalists to one run by the ex-Shah’s son, Reza Pahlavi. Transcription / Notes REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. This is Friday the 16th day of January in the year of our Lord 2026. I will be talking about Iran today and exploring the possibilities for changing the regime there from one run by Islamic fundamentalists to one run by the ex-Shah's son Reza Pahlavi. What does the US want in Iran and what is it willing to do to have it. Yes, it seems that revolution is in the air once again in Iran but this time it seems to be different. Every few years people grow weary of the Ayatollah's strict laws, its moral police, etc. and they take to the streets to protest. This time it seems to be different for several reasons. The protests are much more massive and widespread this time and the people are showing great courage because the last report I saw showed more than 2500 dead and 10,000 arrested so not just protests but war in the streets it seems. The Iranians don't waste much time on niceties such as a fair trial either because they arrest a protester one day and publicly hang him the next as a warning to others. Another reason why this time might be different is that the US President is clearly fully supporting the protesters with his words and promises of military action. The primary reason, however, is that this time there are real reasons other that the resistance to fundamentalist Islam. The last large-scale protests happened when a young woman was arrested by the moral police and she ended up raped and murdered in their custody. The regime is apparently then made up of very bad people and that is always involved in the unrest. This time, in addition, there is a critical, life threatening nationwide water shortage caused or at least made worse by the regime's misuse of water facilities, reservoirs, etc. The water shortage is so bad that the capital city of Tehran is threatened with water rationing. For a city of 9 million that would be catastrophic. The final straw in this round of unrest has been the skyrocketing inflation and destruction of the purchasing power of the Iranian rial. The rial has been devalued so much that Iranian reports now express inflation in terms of dollars. It has lost 60% of its value since last June. So, the regime is bad and the people are courageous. Hundreds killed and thousands arrested which for many is the same thing. The US, through its chief executive, threatens to “hit them very hard.” The US currently has about 2000 troops next door in Iraq and all US bases in the region are on high alert. The US Central Command and certain regional partners have opened a new Middle East Air and Missile Defense command center at the US airbase in Qatar. Reports yesterday said that US troops are now being evacuated in expectation of an Iranian attack. If you have any doubt about whether the US considers itself to be responsible for policing the world and making it right in the US President's eyes those doubts should be erased. When one country has regime change fostered on it quite often it makes a lot of other countries mad and this situation is no different. The US announced a 25% tariff on countries that do business with Iran and that has made the Chinese very angry, Iran is a key part of China's multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative and they desperately want the Mullahs to stay in power. So, the US is, in its own eyes, the policeman of the world. The Iranians seem genuinely disturbed this time unlike all the other times. Their repressive tactics don't seem to be working as well this time. I guess all the Mossad and CIA agents on the ground in Iran encourage the people to carry on. Reports coming out of Iran are that many in the regime want to talk diplomatically with the US this time to avoid a US attack. Talks were scheduled but when Trump heard that people were being killed and hanged he canceled the talks. My opinion is that the regime wanted talks not to diplomatically agree to reforms but to preserve their power. The other problem with talks is that if the US held talks and agreed for the regime to stay in power with US blessing then the US administration would lose its standing. Right now, the people protesting, undoubtedly with Mossad and CIA encouragement, are literally dying and risking their lives to bring about the downfall of the Ayatollah's rule and they expect the US to refrain from diplomatically supporting it. We now have about four decades of diplomatic efforts with Iran without any noticeable results except to make the situation worse so I suppose talking to them and sending them money is pointless. It makes sense to me to stop business and encourage our allies to stop business with a regime that commits such human rights abuses as long as it's universally applied. That's the problem though isn't it. The concept of isolating human rights abusers is not universally applied and everyone knows it including the Iranians. It's hard to stay on the moral high road under such circumstances. Iran, ever the implacable adversary, as usual is talking tough. Would a sensible leader threaten war with an adversary many times stronger when that leader has what appears to be a weakened or destroyed armed forces. The Ayatollah is doing just that but I don't think he is insane, no, he is living out the Islamic book as he perceives it. It tells him seek death instead of life and wash the cities of the world with blood and constant war until the 12th Imman, the Mahdi comes and makes the world into what the books tells him it should be and will be. Rather than insanity he really does literally believe the words in the Islamic Holy Book written almost 1400 years ago. Western leaders don't understand that because they believe nothing. Religion, whether Christianity or anything else is just a ruse they use to get elected. They really believe nothing and worship only the god of power to which they are utterly addicted. This man, the Ayatollah, the unbending foe is different. He will pretend to negotiate for a better deal but when his gullible adversaries in the West deliver he will not comply because he believes the words in that book and nothing else matters to him. He warns the US, through his foreign minister, that he is ready for war if Washington wants to test it. I'm sure he is ready and he apparently doesn't mind how much his people suffer. Why doesn't he get them some food and especially water. I guess it's because he doesn't know how and besides the book doesn't tell him to do that. Why won't he make a deal with the great Satan for water technology and resources, well the answer to that question is obvious by the name of his adversary. The foreign minister said if the US wants war like it did before, Iran is ready for it but he hopes the US will choose the wise diplomatic option. The other way leads to criminal war like the abduction of Nichalos Maduro did. He hopes the US will negotiate rather than make war for Israel's interests. There is a man here in the US who has been very vocal in support of the protestors on social media. That man is Reza Pahlavi, the son of former Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who has been living in exile in the US since the ouster from power of the Shah in 1979 Islamic Revolution. He has been very active with international media appearances as well as social media and the other day he met with Trump's chief Middle East negotiator, Steve Wittkof. Some of the demonstrators in Tehran shout long live the Shah. My guess is that they are too young to remember what life was really like under the Shah. Pahlavi, to my knowledge, has not stated his true intentions with respect to Iran but he is scheduled to travel to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump as well as to deliver a speech at the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast. Very interesting indeed because that makes me think of the real reason for all this. Who are the American politicians who favor the interests of a foreign country over that of the American people. Just about all of them it seems. Last Tuesday, the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said there is no room in his party for those who do not support regime change wars. He said all should be in on overthrowing the Iranian government allegedly on Israel's behalf. There are many polls which show the Ambassador is dead wrong (no pun intended) about that. Polls show that far more Americans support my position of come home and mind your own business rather than the Ambassador's position of fighting for greater Israel in the Middle East. Did Trump commit an act of war against Iran when he sent stealth bombers a few weeks ago. The real question is not was the attack an act of war but was the attack at the bequest of a foreign leader and if so will that same leader request or demand another attack on Iran this time. My conclusion is that yes, he will do it despite the undeniable fact that the American people are sick of foreign wars that have nothing to do with them but are beneficial to foreign nations and their leaders. Meanwhile, in Iran the regime has shut down the internet across the country in an effort to prevent people from organizing meetings and protests. Elon Musk has provided his Starlink system and anyone in Iran can access it without charge he says. There are rumors that the Chinese have provided technology to Iran to disable Starlink. Anytime it is so obvious that an entire people group is not free it causes anger and outrage here in America. In response the Iranians have threatened to assassinate President Trump pledging that “this time we will not miss.” Well, a regime that murders and hangs its own people and which is mired in a water crises and inflation might want to consider a more low-key approach especially when that regime's past performance against the US air force is considered. For now the ISW reports that protests have been suppressed by security forces but could erupt again at any time so we will see. Finally, folks, to close this Castle Report here is an interesting quote from Paul Craig Roberts. “The United States is a strange place. Americans pledge their allegiance to the United States of America, but their government pledges allegiance to Israel. President Trump parades around as if he is master of the world, but he is not even master of his own country.” At least that's the way I see it, Until next time folks, This is Darrell Castle, Thanks for listening.

US Central Command said Saturday that its forces conducted large-scale strikes against multiple Islamic State (IS) targets across Syria.美国中央司令部周六表示，其部队已在叙利亚全境对多个“伊斯兰国”（IS）目标实施大规模打击。"Today, at approximately 12:30 pm Eastern Time, US Central Command forces, alongside partner forces, conducted large-scale strikes against multiple ISIS targets across Syria," the command posted on X.美国中央司令部在社交平台X上发文称：“今日东部时间约下午12时30分，美国中央司令部部队与合作伙伴部队一道，在叙利亚全境对多个ISIS目标实施了大规模打击。”The command said these strikes were part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched and announced on Dec 19 in response to a deadly IS attack on US and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria, on Dec 13. In the attack, a lone IS terrorist carried out an ambush, killing two US soldiers and one US civilian interpreter.该司令部表示，此次打击行动是“鹰眼打击行动”（Operation Hawkeye Strike）的一部分。该行动于12月19日启动并对外宣布，系对12月13日“伊斯兰国”在叙利亚帕尔米拉地区针对美军和叙利亚部队发动的致命袭击作出的回应。在那次袭击中，一名“伊斯兰国”恐怖分子实施伏击，造成两名美军士兵和一名美国平民口译员死亡。The strikes are "part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region," US Central Command said, adding that US and coalition forces "remain resolute in pursuing terrorists who seek to harm the United States."美国中央司令部表示，此次打击行动“是我们持续致力于铲除针对我方作战人员的伊斯兰恐怖主义、预防未来袭击并保护该地区美国及其合作伙伴部队的重要组成部分”。该司令部还补充称，美军及其盟军部队“将继续坚定追捕试图危害美国的恐怖分子”。large-scale strikes /ˌlɑːrdʒ ˈskeɪl straɪks/大规模打击US Central Command (CENTCOM) /ˌsentkɑːm/美国中央司令部Islamic State (IS / ISIS) /ɪzˈlæmɪk steɪt/“伊斯兰国”极端组织Operation Hawkeye Strike /ˌɑːpəˈreɪʃən ˈhɔːkaɪ straɪk/“鹰眼打击行动”carry out an ambush /ˈkæri aʊt æn ˈæmbʊʃ/实施伏击

AP correspondent Donna Warder reports on the ambush killings of three Americans in Syria.

After two incredibly long years, we are finally able to celebrate the return of all living Israeli hostages from the hell of Hamas. Absent specifics and relying on a long history of failed “new beginnings” in the Middle East, Trump's 20-point Peace Plan begs the question, what comes next? With a successful Phase One and a fragile Phase Two, it is with cautious optimism that we ask: how will disarmament and demilitarization be successfully carried out in Gaza? What does this mean for Israeli politics and the looming election? And how will Western leftist groups react to the end of the fake “genocide”? Dan Senor currently serves as the Chief Public Affairs Officer at Elliott Investment Management in addition to hosting his own podcast, Call Me Back. Mr. Senor served as a senior advisor to U.S. Senator Mitt Romney and former U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan in their campaigns for national office. During the presidential administration of George W. Bush, Mr. Senor was based in Baghdad, where he served as chief spokesperson for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. Before that, he was a senior Defense Department official based in US Central Command in Qatar. Read the transcript here.Subscribe to our Substack here.

Ted Roberts is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with more than 30 years of service. He began his Air Force career as an enlisted Airman. After three years of enlisted service, he entered the United States Air Force Academy. He graduated, earned his commission and served as a career Space Operations officer. During his officer career, he graduated from the Space Weapons Instructor Course at the US Air Force Weapons School. He also has extensive Joint planning and operations experience, working as a Joint Planner supporting US Indo-Pacific Command, US Central Command, and US Transportation Command. He concluded his career as an Assistant Professor teaching Joint Planning and Joint Professional Military Education Level II (JPME II) at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, and most recently graduated from Regent University with his Doctorate in Strategic Leadership in May 2020. He is married and has three children, and currently resides in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Randy Rosin returns to the Cognitive Crucible to support his assertion that warfare is informational and the US Department of Defense needs an entirely new information paradigm. Recording Date: 28 Aug 2025 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #7 Randy Rosin on Russia and Applied Cybernetics #187 Randy Rosin on Reflexive Control #125 Journey from conception through JP 3-04 Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine by Norbert Wiener Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes On the Cosmos by Seth Lloyd The Bit and the Pendulum: From Quantum Computing to M Theory--The New Physics of Information by Tom Siegfried The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Dr. Randy Rosin was formerly a faculty member of the National Intelligence University in Bethesda, Maryland. He taught courses in propaganda, foreign information and cyber strategy, cyber threat intelligence, denial and deception, and leadership. He is a 32-year active-duty Army veteran who has served in combat arms, psychological operations, information operations, as a middle eastern foreign area officer, and in human intelligence operations. Notably serving as the information operations chief in Iraq, at US Central Command, and as the Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché in Yemen.  His research interests are in the intersection of technology and manipulative communication and on the development of information-based theoretical frameworks in military applications. Currently he teaches critical thinking courses in the Honors College at Montana State University. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

PREVIEW: Colleague General Blaine Holt, USAF (Ret) explains the significance of two E-3 Sentry Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft deployed from Tinker AFB in Oklahoma to the Area-of-Responsibility of US Central Command. More later. 1902 PERSIA