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Trump’s Iran war will reinforce North Korea’s view that nuclear weapons are the only path to security
As speculation mounts that Kim Jong-un and Trump could meet this month, analysts say Pyongyang will continue to see nuclear weapons as a matter of survivalMiddle East crisis – live updates North Korea’s launch last week of a missile from a naval destroyer elicited an uncharacteristically prosaic analysis from the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un. The launch was proof, he said, that arming ships with nuclear weapons was “making satisfactory progress”.But the test, and Kim’s mildly upbeat appraisal, were designed to reverberate well beyond the deck of the 5,000-tonne destroyer-class vessel the Choe Hyon – the biggest warship in the North Korean fleet. Continue reading...
An innkeeper in Fukushima measures radiation to revive her hometown, in photos
Monitors like innkeeper Tomoko Kobayashi share radiation data to revitalize towns people left after the Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
China reports its exports jumped nearly 22% year-on-year in January to February, while shipments to the US fell 11%
China reports its exports jumped nearly 22% year-on-year in January to February, while shipments to the US fell 11%
Expert warns sleeper cells could be activated in US over Trump's war: ‘The threat is real'
A terrorism analyst on Monday explained how the United States-Israel war against Iran might have activated sleeper cells and has concerned law enforcement. Alex Plitsas, counterterrorism program director for the Atlantic Council, told CNN anchor Jake Tapper that recent attacks had suggested increased activity among terrorist sleeper cells. Plitsas cited the attempted attack Saturday by two men charged with using weapons of mass destruction and supporting the Islamic State after throwing a bomb near New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Gracie Mansion, in addition to two other recent terrorism-related incidents — the attack on a nightclub in Austin, Texas, and a bombing outside the U.S. embassy in Oslo, Norway. He also described a new report that revealed an encrypted transmission was intercepted by the U.S., which has prompted concern among security experts and law enforcement.Tapper asked Plitsas how worried he was about the recent attacks. "Significantly concerned," Plitsas said. "You know, not that there's a particular plot that I'm aware of and not to be alarmist for folks who are listening, but let's we can kind of walk through some of the facts that we that have come out and come to light recently about why I would make that comment. So there's been three cells that have been arrested in Qatar, in the UK and Azerbaijan over the last week that were affiliated with the IRGC, the Quds force — that's Iran special operations folks — that have an external cell that were engaged either intelligence collection or surveillance and preparation, likely for sabotage or terrorist operations. We saw a bombing outside of the U.S. embassy in Oslo. We still don't know who was responsible for that. And then there was reporting that came out earlier today that code words appear to have been intercepted where the Iranians may have activated sleeper cells globally amongst their IRGC folks or potentially Hezbollah. And so they've been known to have folks slip in and out of the United States, intelligence officers from Iran in covert status who have been in the United States conducting surveillance on targets who have also attempted to contract hitmen in some cases you know, there was a plot against President Trump himself."He also mentioned how these operations had targeted others. "There's a very famous female dissident who lives in Brooklyn, they were attempting to assassinate her as well," Plitsas said. "They've become exceptionally bold in recent years. And this all sort of came to light during the Obama administration when it was revealed and disrupted that they were looking at actually bombing a restaurant in Washington at one point, where the Saudi ambassador was said to have been eating. So the threat is real. And as Iran gets further backed into a corner and its military capabilities are further degraded, there's a possibility it could turn to asymmetric threats." Plitsas argued there could be more attacks and that law enforcement would continue investigating. "And as we like to say in the business, you know one time is an instance, two times a coincidence, three times is hostile enemy action," Plitsas added. "We had three cells arrested this week, a bombing outside Oslo. And then potential chatter now about sleeper cells being activated. So the JTTF (Joint Terrorism Task Force) and speaking to contacts within the FBI and law enforcement community are actively monitoring and aggressively pursuing any leads that are out there right now, including with international partners. So confidence in the efforts are federal law enforcement along with their local partners, have but they only have to be right once, and we have to be right every time."
Pentagon claims it's 'only just begun to fight' as Trump says Iran war 'very complete'
The U.S. Department of Defense insisted that its military forces had "only just begun to fight" as President Donald Trump insisted that the war in Iran was "very complete."Trump made the statement during a phone interview with CBS correspondent Weijia Jiang on Monday."I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they've got no Air Force," the president was quoted as saying, noting that the U.S. was "very far" ahead of its plans for a 4 to 5 week war.Meanwhile, on Monday, the "Department of War Rapid Response" X account shared a meme reading "No Mercy.""We have Only Just Begun to Fight," the caption added.
Trump claims war in Iran 'very complete' as he speaks with Putin
President Donald Trump claimed in a new interview what he thinks will come next for the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran as reports surfaced about a conversation Monday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the president. CBS Senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang reported that Trump said in a phone interview that the war in the Middle East could be ending soon. It's unclear when the conflict was expected to end. “I think the war is very complete, pretty much," Jiang wrote about the conversation with Trump via X. "They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no Air Force.” Trump also said that the "U.S. is 'very far' ahead of his initial 4-5 week estimated time frame," Jiang added. The president also reportedly had a phone call with Putin, according to Reuters chief national security reporter Phil Stewart in a post on X, and "shared his proposals aimed at a quick settlement to the Iran war, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. The leaders also discussed the Ukrainian conflict and the situation in Venezuela in the context of the global oil market situation, Ushakov said."Trump was slated to address press questions about the war on Monday afternoon.
Alaskan king crab and a $98k piano — Pentagon busted for $93 billion spending 'binge'
A GOP senator fired a shot across the bow of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon for going ‘through tens of billions of dollars on impulse purchases” at the end of the fiscal year with multiple purchases drawing scrutiny, reports the conservative Daily Caller.According to government watchdog Open The Books, the Department of Defense's spending in September reached levels not seen since at least 2008 — a total of $93 billion. The extravagant purchases have taken on new importance now that the Pentagon may be on the verge of depleting its munitions stockpile as Trump's war on Iran escalates.The waste was staggering. The Pentagon spent over $225 million on furniture alone — the highest amount since 2014. This included $12,000 on fruit basket stands and more than $60,000 on premium Herman Miller chairs.Dining also received generous funding. The Pentagon purchased $2 million worth of Alaskan king crab in September — a feat the department has accomplished five times during Trump's tenure.Musical instruments joined the shopping list. A $98,329 Steinway & Sons grand piano, a $26,000 violin, and a $21,750 handmade Japanese flute were among $1.8 million spent on instruments.The Pentagon also made $6.6 billion in purchases from foreign governments and businesses — over $1 billion more than the previous record of $5.2 billion in September 2023. These expenditures included $3 billion for training classes, janitorial work, and border surveillance, plus $3.6 billion in goods including computer chips and firetrucks.Open The Books CEO John Hart called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to refocus the department's spending. "Under Secretary Hegseth, the Pentagon has consistently said its mission is to refocus on warfighting and lethality," Hart stated. "Last year, we highlighted the problem of wasteful use-it-or-lose-it year-end spending. We noted that this reform is fully within the secretary's control and is a historic opportunity to make good on that promise."Republican Iowa Senator Joni Ernst issued a direct rebuke, stating: "If taxpayers are going to be asked to spend $1.5 trillion on defense — nearly as much as the rest of the world combined — Washington must be able to defend how every dollar is being spent. Open the Books' findings that binge-buying bureaucrats at the Pentagon burned through tens of billions of dollars on impulse purchases, like fruit basket stands, footrests, doughnuts by the dozen, and a custom-made flute, demonstrate how much work still needs to be done to meet that goal."You can read more here.
Canada's Mark Carney heading to Norway to watch NATO exercises, meet with prime minister
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to visit Norway on Friday where he will observe a NATO exercise before visiting the United Kingdom
Lindsey Graham threatens Saudi Arabia with 'consequences' if it doesn't join Iran war
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) vowed that there would be "consequences" for Saudi Arabia if the U.S. ally did not join in the war against Iran."The American Embassy is being evacuated in Riyadh because of sustained attacks by Iran against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Graham wrote in a Monday post on X. "It is my understanding the Kingdom refuses to use their capable military as a part of an effort to end the barbaric and terrorist Iranian regime who has terrorized the region and killed 7 Americans.""Why should America do a defense agreement with a country like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is unwilling to join a fight of mutual interest?" the senator asked. "Saudi Arabia seems to be issuing statements and doing things in the background that are marginally helpful, but unwilling to participate in military operations to end the reign of terror coming out of Iran.""Hopefully this changes soon. If not, consequences will follow."
'Incorrect, Mr. Pete Hegseth': Steve Bannon lashes out at Trump's defense secretary
MAGA influencer Steve Bannon lashed out at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after he scoffed at a question from 60 Minutes about whether Iran was an imminent threat to the United States."I think much of that discussion is silly and academic," Hegseth told CBS reporter Major Garrett during the Sunday interview.The answer didn't sit well with Bannon on his Monday broadcast."There's just got to be a different messaging," he explained. "It's got to be different information... And let me be specific about that. And you know, I think the world of Pete Hegseth. Nobody fought for Pete Hegseth's confirmation more than this audience and this show.""That being said, the 60 Minutes interview last night, you just can't sit there and go shine us on about imminent threat," Bannon continued. "Oh yeah, it's not an immigrant threat. No, it doesn't work like that. The people in the messaging part, moreover, they've got to get serious about this."The MAGA host insisted that the American people would not accept "short-term pain for long-term gain.""But you're going to start losing people," he noted. "And last night on 60 Minutes, just to kind of shine on imminent threat, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Incorrect, sir. Incorrect, Mr. Pete Hegseth. It was imminent threat, and I'd like to know about that imminent threat.""Because I think you showed last night, there was not an imminent threat, and now we're in it. Now we're in it," Bannon added.
Conservatives flip out as MAGA icon makes 'truly unhinged' prediction about US troops
Republican lawmakers, conservative pundits and military veterans reacted with revulsion over the weekend at comments made by podcaster Tucker Carlson on Friday, in which he predicted that US troops would go on a campaign of sexual assault in Iran if the country agreed to Donald Trump’s “unconditional surrender" terms. In an interview with “Breaking Points” co-host Saagar Enjeti, the former Fox News personality reacted to the “unconditional surrender” comments amplified by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, by telling the podcast host, “Unconditional surrender means foreign troops get to rape your wife and daughter if they want — and everyone knows that.”He doubled down by adding, “If there is one consistent lesson of history, it means unconditional surrender means foreign troops get to rape your wife and daughter. Everyone can feel that. That’s like the most atavistic instinct there is. And so to avoid that, people will do anything.”That drew the attention of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) who posted the clip on X and commented, “Tucker Carlson is truly unhinged. He asserts: (1) if Iran surrenders, American soldiers ‘WILL rape their wives & daughters,’ and (2) Trump is going to use nukes against Iran. This brazen lie is moronic & delusional.”National Review contributor Pradheep J. Shanker was dumbstruck and wrote, “This is who MAGA still wants to support? A man that think our GIs would rape women...just for the hell of it? Shameful.”"Tucker Carlson just said @realDonaldTrump seeks unconditional surrender in Iran so that American troops can rape their women and girls. What a disgusting thing to say about both Trump and our military. Tucker is not MAGA. He is bat-s—t crazy,” complained Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) who has his own history of outrageous social media posts.Jonah Goldberg, founder of the conservative Dispatch, chimed in with: “Tucker has all of these incredibly lazy but shockingly effective rhetorical tricks. He says ‘everyone knows that’ about something everyone doesn’t know and isn't true. He says ‘no reasonable person can disagree’ about a wildly unreasonable claim. I’m always shocked by the people who fall for this c--p.”“This is moon bat crazy! How can he not know that Germany and Japan both surrendered unconditionally in WWII?! Is he suggesting that American troops then raped all the Japanese and German wives and daughters?? Carlson has lost his mind,“ wrote Washington Times columnist Dr. Everett PiperMilitary veteran Green Beret Nap Time took Carlson’s comments personally and argued, “This is the most vile and disgusting thing he could have possibly said. He’s claiming to be ‘America First’ but then saying that our troops would rape women and children in Iran if they surrender. Got it. You. Do. Not. Hate. These. People. Enough.” - YouTube youtu.be
'Tone deaf' Trump granddaughter flaunts Secret Service on 'crazy expensive' shopping trip
Kai Trump, the granddaughter of the president of the United States, made a video bragging about taking her Secret Service agents on a luxury shopping trip.In a 20-minute YouTube video titled "I Brought My Secret Service to Erewhon," Kai Trump shared her experience shopping at the upscale grocery chain."Alright, guys, well, welcome back to the channel," the MAGA influencer began. "Right now, we are in Erewhon, which is in LA. This is to be an Erewhon video. and everything I get from Erewhon... Erewhon is the most expensive grocery store, pretty much out there. Everything's crazy expensive."At one point, the president's granddaughter joked that the shipping trip was so expensive that she would have to "file for bankruptcy."The spree came as a war in Iran started by Kai Trump's grandfather was causing gas prices to spike to over $3 a gallon in many states.Commenters on X blasted her for the "tone deaf" shopping trip."Time to enlist, girly," one person wrote."Give me a break. Put a uniform on," Tracey Gallagher agreed.
