President Donald Trump declared the month-long US-Israeli war against Iran a success “nearing completion” in a prime time address to the nation on Wednesday evening – despite the conflict causing global economic chaos, damaging transatlantic alliances and impacting his approval ratings.
Trump Declares Iran War ‘Nearing Completion’ Amidst Ongoing Conflict
In an address criticized by Democrats as “incoherent” and failing to address fundamental questions, Trump claimed the US’s “little journey” to Iran had nearly accomplished “all of America’s military objectives.” He remained unclear on plans to end the conflict within the next “two to three weeks.”
Trump repeated his claim that Iran’s leadership was seeking a ceasefire, but there was little indication of a letup in the war as Israel unleashed two waves of attacks on Tehran and reported killing a senior Hezbollah commander.
Israel has killed at least 1,268 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s ministry of health.
Questions were raised about Trump’s rationale for the war – which lacks public support – after he stated he did not care about Iran’s stock of highly enriched uranium, arguing it was deep underground and could be monitored by satellite.
- What is the significance of Trump’s comments on HEU? The decision to disregard Iran’s uranium stockpile appears to conflict with assertions that a key war aim was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.
Nasa’s Artemis II Rocket Launches for Historic Moon Mission
Nasa’s moon rocket Artemis II launched on Wednesday evening, sending astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972.
The rocket is currently orbiting Earth and will continue to do so until Thursday, when the translunar injection burn will send it on its 240,000-mile journey to the moon.
The 10-day test flight will not land on the moon, but will photograph areas of the moon’s south pole, where future human landings and a lunar base are planned, from a height of 4,000 to 6,000 miles.
- What has Houston said about the rocket’s deployment? Flight controllers confirmed that all four solar arrays, which will provide continuous electrical power throughout the lunar journey, were deployed successfully.
Death of Rohingya Refugee Ruled a Homicide
Authorities have ruled that the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a visually impaired Rohingya refugee who was left by US Border Patrol agents in a restaurant parking lot on a cold winter night in Buffalo, was a homicide.
Shah, who was nearly blind and did not speak English, died on February 24, five days after being dropped off without notification to his family or attorney.
- How did he die? The medical examiner’s office determined the cause of death was “complications of a perforated duodenal ulcer precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration”, and ruled the manner of death a homicide.
- What does homicide mean in this context? For death certification purposes, “homicide” refers to a death resulting from the actions of another person, including negligent acts or omissions, the office said. It does not imply intent to cause harm or establish criminal liability.
In other news …
Trump has reportedly polled advisers about firing Tulsi Gabbard as intelligence chief in recent weeks, apparently frustrated by her shielding a former deputy, Joe Kent, after he undermined the president’s rationale for the Iran war.
Congress’s Republican leaders have agreed to advance a deal that would fund all Department of Homeland Security operations except immigration enforcement, as an end to the shutdown appears in sight.
New DNA testing has linked Ted Bundy to the unsolved murder of 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime, from Utah, in 1974.
Stat of the day: Just 3% of US homes have an induction stove
Just 3% of US homes have electric induction stoves, which use magnetic fields to heat cookware directly. Efforts to expand their use have been met with resistance from the gas industry and some Republican politicians. A pilot project is beginning in New York to fit thousands of public housing apartments with induction stoves, with potential benefits for the climate, public health and cost savings.
The Filter recommends: I gave this Victorian-inspired ‘acquaintance card’ to a stranger. Here’s how it went
Tired of dating apps and seeking a meet-cute? Acquaintance cards, inspired by Victorian-era flirtation cards, offer a way to offer a compliment – and your contact details. Here’s how it went when a writer tested them out in a Manhattan dive bar.
Don’t miss this: Prosecutors used hip-hop lyrics to help sentence a man to death – ‘This only happens to rap music’
James Broadnax was 19 when a jury convicted him of capital murder, with prosecutors presenting his rap lyrics as evidence of a future threat. Broadnax, who has been on death row in Texas for over 16 years, is scheduled to be executed on April 30, partly due to the framing of his poetry. Experts are petitioning the supreme court, with Erik Nielson stating: “This only happens to rap music. No other fictional form, musical or otherwise, has been targeted and criminalised in this way.”
Climate check: Trump pursuing ‘fossil-fuel imperialism’ in Iran
Donald Trump’s comments about wanting to “take the oil in Iran” echo his belief in “fossil-fuel imperialism.” His interest in Iran’s oil – and specifically, Kharg Island – dates back decades, as he told the Guardian’s Polly Toynbee in a 1988 interview that he would “do a number on Kharg Island” if he became president.
Last Thing: Reports of this tortoise’s death are exaggerated
At 194 years old, Jonathan the giant tortoise was alive during the American civil war – and has now become ensnared in a crypto scam. A conman posing as his vet announced the tortoise’s death, apparently to solicit cryptocurrency donations.
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