The US and Israel initiated strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026. Over 100 international law experts — including from US institutions — have now issued a joint statement declaring those strikes a "clear violation of the United Nations Charter," with the conduct of the war and statements from US officials raising "serious concerns about violations of international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes." Meanwhile, Trump claims the US can "easily" open the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of the world's oil passes — "with a little more time." NATO allies were not consulted before the war began and many consider it an illegal act. Read more →
Trump removed Pam Bondi as US Attorney General, ending a tenure that was overshadowed by her handling of the Epstein files and a rapid restructuring of the Justice Department's traditional independence from the White House. Todd Blanche, a former prosecutor who represented Trump in his criminal hush-money case, takes over as acting AG. The move is the latest in a wave of purges across the administration during the ongoing Iran war — coming within hours of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asking the Army's top general to step down. Read more →
The Iran conflict is having measurable knock-on effects on global supply chains and humanitarian situations far from the Middle East. Fuel costs and transport disruptions are worsening hunger in Somalia, where the UN says the war is compounding an already fragile food situation. Kuwait Airport was hit by Iranian drone attacks, and a large sandstorm swept across the Sahara this week — both events further complicating logistics in the region. The Strait of Hormuz remains partially restricted, keeping energy markets on edge. Read more →
Artemis II has left Earth's orbit and is now on a trajectory that will take it past the far side of the Moon — farther from Earth than any human has traveled since Apollo 17 in December 1972. Commander Reid Wiseman reported a "beautiful Moonrise" as the crew got their first glimpse through their forward windows. The four astronauts — Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen — will peak at 252,799 miles from Earth on Monday, April 6, seeing parts of the far side no human eye has ever witnessed. Splashdown is scheduled for April 10 off California. Read more →
AI companies have shattered fundraising records in the first quarter of 2026, collectively pulling in $297 billion. OpenAI closed a single round of $122 billion at an $852 billion valuation — the largest venture investment in history — with anticipation building toward an IPO. Anthropic, Waymo, and others also posted massive hauls. The funding boom signals a continued shift in AI from experimental to industrial scale, with companies now moving aggressively toward monetization strategies. Critics note the timing coincides with major AI safety concerns. Read more →