FOLLOW CONFLICT

“Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, is conceding defeat to his former ally in yesterday's election. As Brussels now looks forward to working with a more pro European Hungarian leader, Moscow and the current White House administration have lost in Orban, a key ally in Europe.”

“President Trump says the US Navy will begin a blockade of ships moving in and out of the Strait Of Hormuz today. The move follows twenty one hours of peace talks between The US and Iran and Pakistan where no agreement was reached to end the war.”

“The NAR is revising its housing forecast down for the year. That's because the war with Iran has raised the cost of borrowing, and that sent mortgage rates up. The association went from rejecting a double digit increase in existing home sales to just 4%.”

“When he sank a short putt on the eighteenth hole, Rory McIlroy joined legendary golfers Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Nick Faldo as the only back to back masters champions. He beat American Scottie Scheffler by one stroke.”

“The US military is blocking ships from entering or exiting Iranian ports absent a peace agreement. The blockade was due to take effect two hours ago. US central command says the action will not, quote, impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait Of Hormuz to and from non Iranian ports.”

“Meanwhile, in a profanity-filled post on social media, President Trump threatened Iran again today over opening the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli attacks have killed at least 39 people across Lebanon today. And Piers-Lauren Freire reports, one of the biggest attacks targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, where Iran-backed Hezbollah has offices.”

“The defendant is alleged to having traveled across state lines with the intent to both target an individual and a major technology company. This was not spontaneous. This was planned, targeted, and extremely serious.”

“Russia attacks Ukrainian cities with hundreds of Shaheds a day, and Ukraine's military has learned how to intercept them. Zelensky is offering to trade this anti-drone expertise for systems that shoot down Russian ballistic missiles. Joanna Kekesis, NPR News, CAVE.”

“The Screenwriters Union and Hollywood Studios have reached a tentative four-year agreement after weeks of negotiation. Details of the agreement between the Writers Guild of America West and the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers hasn't been released. But the Union was asking for better health care plans and protections against artificial intelligence.”

“One of his favorite things to watch was an anime adaptation of Anne of Green Gables. She was an outsider just like him. And he noticed other things. Like in the school scenes, the boys and girls weren't separated. They were together, sitting side by side, interacting with each other. He wished his school was like that. So much so, that before going to sleep at night, he would imagine himself sitting in that classroom.”

“So far, the average refund is about 11% higher than this time last year, about $350 more according to data from the IRS. Michael Pierce with Oxford Economics expects that average will go up. That's because higher income filers typically procrastinate on filing and seem to be benefiting more from the new tax changes.”

“The post was deleted after many, including Trump supporters, criticized the imagery. Trump also said he won't apologize to to pope Leo after lashing out at the pontiff for his comments criticizing the war in Iran. Pope Leo called the president's threats last week to destroy Iranian civilization unacceptable.”

“Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell is suspending his campaign for governor of California. He announced the suspension last night in a post on x amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, accusations the congressman denies.”

“When it came to Trump's call to overthrow the government, many of those opposed to the regime said it didn't make sense to take to the streets and protest. It was too dangerous. One source told me her friend's daughter was shot and killed on the street by what she described as pro regime forces. Because our neighbor who was a civilian was killed in an attack. Another told me her neighbor was at work when he was killed by an airstrike.”

“Democratic California congressman Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzalez are stepping down from their house seats, both bowing to pressure to leave congress or face expulsion following sexual misconduct allegations.”

“World Cup tickets are getting even pricier. FIFA, the international governing body for professional soccer, is adding a more expensive tier. A ticket for a front category one seat at the US opener against Argentina in Los Angeles will cost as much as $5,470 according to the Associated Press.”

“The Iranian government had effectively cut off the country from the rest of the world. The number I kept seeing was 99%. 99% of Iranians who normally had access to the internet now didn't. I was trying to reach the remaining 1%. These would be people with workarounds like VPNs or enough money to afford satellite communications like Starlink that could get them online for even just a few minutes.”

“The US Navy now restricting the movement of ships in and out of the Strait Of Hormuz, part of a blockade of Iranian ports announced by president Trump Sunday after peace talks with Iran produced no agreement. Iran has remained defiant, saying it will not surrender to threats from The US.”

“Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had just been killed in an airstrike. Many of the people I spoke with were critical of the regime, like the vast majority of Iranians. Their spirits seemed high. Many of those people were grieving. But others were angry and pledged to fight against the American and Israeli invaders. One Iranian who supported the regime said he heard people chanting death to Trump.”

“Within hours of those reports, nearly all of his major endorsers abandoned him. On x, Swalwell apologized for mistakes in judgment but denies the allegations. He's now facing calls from fellow Democrats in California to resign his house seat.”

“Residents posted this video to social media showing people covered in gray dust, ferrying the wounded out of a collapsed building on slings made of blankets. Israel often issues evacuation orders, but this attack in Beirut's coastal area of Jenach came without warning. Hitting a dense residential area near a public hospital, health officials say a four-year-old girl was among those killed.”

“He urged the Iranian people to rise up against the government. 'Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.' But then bombs started to fall. People did not rise up. And so I wondered, what did Iranians think of this new war and the president's call to action?”

“Word of the blockade sent oil prices higher to more than $100 a barrel. Ships traveling between non Iranian ports are expected to be allowed to transit the Strait Of Hormuz during the blockade.”

“The Hungarian government under Orban has not been using the veto to protect Hungarian interest. It was using the veto to protect Russian interest. So that very clearly will need to stop.”

“The pilot was quickly recovered, but his weapons officer or colonel spent again two days evading Iranian militia and Revolutionary Guard forces. He was eventually plucked from a crevasse in a mountain some 7,000 feet high. I'm told by a US official, he's in stable condition, though no detail on his wounds.”