Israel launched a large-scale air strike on Iran, targeting its main underground nuclear facility and killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. This attack, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion” by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, prompted Iran to launch hundreds of ballistic missiles in retaliation, resulting in explosions across Tehran and other cities. The attack, the largest between the two countries, has raised international concerns, with President Trump suggesting that further conflict could be avoided through renewed nuclear talks. Casualty numbers are high on both sides, and the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear program remains unclear.
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The CIA released nearly 1,500 pages of declassified documents related to Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination, fulfilling President Trump’s commitment to transparency. These documents detail the agency’s investigation into Kennedy’s death, including previously unknown contacts between Kennedy and the CIA following his 1955 Soviet Union trip where he acted as a voluntary informant. The release also includes information on the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., and other unrelated documents found during the AI-assisted search. The newly released materials further reveal CIA attempts to poison Fidel Castro and internal memos discussing assassination conspiracy theories.
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Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown is facing an attempted murder charge with a firearm stemming from a shooting incident at a Miami celebrity boxing event. A warrant alleges Brown fired shots at a man following an altercation, with witnesses identifying Brown as the shooter and shell casings found at the scene. While Brown claims he was assaulted and acted in self-defense, the warrant mandates a $10,000 bond and house arrest. This latest incident adds to Brown’s history of off-field legal issues, marking a significant decline from his once-promising NFL career.
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In late 2024, a Hungarian Diplomatic Academy applicant failed a national security screening due to close ties with Georg Spöttle, a pro-government propagandist linked to Russian intelligence. Spöttle, who actively promoted Spöttle’s career and sought to secure him a diplomatic position, spreads Kremlin narratives across Hungarian media. This posed a significant risk, as diplomats handle sensitive government information. The Hungarian government’s response to inquiries regarding this matter was evasive and dismissive.
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Despite President Trump’s assertion that Israeli strikes on Iran are “the greatest thing ever for the market,” stock markets experienced a significant downturn, with major indexes falling approximately 1%, and oil prices surged by about 7%. This market reaction contradicts Trump’s optimistic prediction, which was based on the belief that the strikes would prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Conflicting reports emerged regarding U.S. involvement, with Trump denying prior knowledge while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed the U.S. was informed beforehand.
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The flight data recorder (black box) from the crashed Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has been recovered from the roof of a doctors’ hostel struck by the aircraft. A joint team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and Gujarat government personnel located the bright orange device, which contains crucial flight data and cockpit audio recordings. This information will be vital in determining the cause of the crash, which tragically resulted in only one survivor out of 242 passengers. International investigative teams are now on-site to assist in the inquiry.
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Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, received a 7 1/2-year prison sentence and a $2.5 million fine for his conviction on bribery and other charges. The judge cited Madigan’s perjury during his trial as a significant factor in the sentencing, rejecting arguments for leniency based on his age and his wife’s health. Madigan’s conviction stemmed from a four-month trial involving extensive evidence demonstrating a scheme to trade legislation for personal enrichment. The sentence concludes the downward spiral of Madigan’s decades-long career marked by accusations of corruption and abuse of power.
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Four detainees escaped from the privately-run Delaney Hall Immigration Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey, prompting a joint DHS and FBI investigation and a $10,000 reward for information leading to their apprehension. The escapees, identified as public safety threats, are from Honduras and Colombia and were previously arrested in New Jersey. The GEO Group, which operates the facility, is cooperating with ICE, while local officials have expressed concerns about conditions at the facility following recent protests and arrests of visiting politicians. The incident follows previous unrest at the center and highlights ongoing tensions surrounding immigration detention practices.
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Following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets, including the killing of Iran’s armed forces chief of staff, French President Macron spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and other world leaders, urging restraint and de-escalation to prevent regional instability. Macron affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense while simultaneously calling for all parties to exercise maximum restraint. A planned address on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was cancelled, as France focused on protecting its citizens and interests in the region. These events occurred amidst already strained relations between France and Israel.
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Latvia’s parliament has passed amendments to its National Security Law, prohibiting Russian and Belarusian citizens from working in or providing services to the country’s critical infrastructure, defined as facilities essential to public health, safety, and national well-being. The law bars these citizens from accessing sensitive data or systems within this infrastructure, with exceptions requiring special authorization. Furthermore, Russian and Belarusian individuals and companies are prohibited from owning or benefiting from critical infrastructure, including management roles. This legislation mandates loyalty to Latvia and prohibits support for actors threatening democratic nations, mirroring similar, albeit broader, vehicle restrictions recently implemented by Lithuania.
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John Q. Hosedrinker