Friday, March 13, 2026
Geopolitics
BBC News · Reuters · AP
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is "wounded and likely disfigured" as US and Israeli strikes hit Tehran's ability to build more weapons. The live report says Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran. Meanwhile, the Iran war approaches its two-week mark with no end in sight. [Reuters]
Geopolitics
Reuters
A complex tug-of-war inside the White House is driving Trump's shifting public statements on the course of the Iran war, as aides debate when and how to declare victory even as the conflict spreads across the Middle East. Meanwhile, Trump says the US will hit Iran "very hard" after easing sanctions on Russian oil to offset supply disruptions. [AP]
Geopolitics
AP News
ROTC students at Old Dominion University subdued and killed a shooter who left 1 dead and 2 hurt. In a separate incident, a man rammed his vehicle into a Michigan synagogue in what the governor called "hate, plain and simple." The suspect is a naturalized citizen from Lebanon, according to DHS. [BBC]
Tech & Science
BBC News
NASA is targeting early April for the Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era. The mission is a crucial step toward NASA's goal of returning humans to the lunar surface. This comes as part of NASA's renewed push for lunar exploration.
Tech & Science
AP News
Ships are identifying themselves as Chinese around the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war to avoid attacks. The tactic highlights the escalating risks to global shipping in one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints. Many vessels are flying Chinese flags or using Chinese identification to deter Iranian attacks, as the conflict disrupts international commerce.
Geopolitics
BBC News
France has returned a sacred "talking drum" that was looted during colonial rule to Ivory Coast. The artifact, known for its role in cultural ceremonies, had been held in a French museum for decades. The return marks another step in ongoing efforts to repatriate African artifacts taken during the colonial period.