Pakistan is preparing for a new round of talks between the U.S. and Iran two days before a tenuous ceasefire is set to expire. There is renewed conflict around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's foreign minister accuses Washington of being disingenuous ahead of the planned talks. Since the war started, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran.
Before the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, the average price of gasoline was $2.98 a gallon. It now sits above $4. Trump has insisted that the price increase is temporary and that Americans will see relief soon. The president is heading into a critical midterm election.
The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most significant energy chokepoint. It is a waterway that at its narrowest point is barely 33 km long. The U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran on 28th February 2026. Iran retaliated by effectively blockading the Strait in March. Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain rely almost exclusively on the Strait for their energy exports. Oil prices have risen nearly 60 percent in just over a month. European Central Bank has postponed planned rate cuts and raised its inflation forecast for the year from 1.9% to 2.6%.
Lance Johnson voted for Donald Trump three times, but he's not happy with the third time around. The past two weeks have arguably been the most bruising of Trump's two terms in office. He launched an unpopular war with Iran, insulted the pope and posted an AI image of himself as Jesus Christ on social media. Just 38% of voters approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president.
The United States, Israel, and Lebanon have held their first direct talks since 1993. The talks took place between the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. and the Lebanese ambassador. They are aimed at setting up a formal negotiation track between Jerusalem and Beirut to establish a framework for a permanent and lasting peace.
Pope Leo XIV never said Iran could have nuclear weapons. The Vatican has always been committed to disarmament. The Holy See is a signatory state to the 2017 UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (APT). Vice President J.D. Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019 and does not avoid theological debate.
Tucker Carlson apologizes for his support of Donald Trump. The conservative podcaster has been fired from Fox News and has been at odds with the president over US support for Israel and the war the two countries started in Iran. Trump recently attacked Carlson and other rightwing media personalities who supported his Make America Great Again movement.
The journey of the Ford aircraft carrier began in June 2025 from Norfolk in the US state of Virginia. In October, the Ford was diverted to the Caribbean as part of an exceptionally large US naval deployment in the region. The numbers come from an evaluation by U.S. Naval Institute News.
House Democrats have filed six articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of War. They accuse him of abuse of power, war crimes, and other wrongdoing related to the war on Iran. Republicans control the House of Representatives and can block any effort to bring the articles to a floor vote.
The IMF has downgraded its global growth forecast for 2026 from 3.3 to 3.1%, but some industries are thriving on the uncertainty. Polymarket allows users to bet on the outcome of conflicts like the Iran war. The prediction platform has been earning over $1m a day since the start of March.