March 10, 2026

U.S., ISRAEL, IRAN WAR | Day 11.

• U.S. President Donald Trump warned yesterday of an escalation in U.S. military actions against Iran if the Iranian regime "does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz." Reports note that ship traffic through the Strait, through which about 20% of the world's oil production normally transits, has almost ceased since the war began on February 28. [more]
• Multiple media outlets and private intelligence firms cite video and satellite analysis as appearing to indicate that a U.S. Tomahawk missile struck a girls' school in the southern Iran city of Minab on the opening day of the war, killing at least 165 people. Reports note that U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested Iran was responsible for striking the school, which was located next to an Iranian military facility, but that the U.S. is the only country involved in the war that is known to possess Tomahawk missiles. [more]
• The U.S. State Department ordered non-essential personnel to depart Saudi Arabia and the U.S. consulate in Adana, Turkey, yesterday, bringing to 10 the number of U.S. embassies and consulates either closed or operating with reduced staffing amidst Iranian attacks on regional countries in the ongoing war. [more]
• Following the recent NATO interception of two missiles fired from Iran toward Turkey, the Turkish Defense Ministry said today that additional air defenses are being deployed in the country's Malatya province, which hosts NATO radar assets. [more]
• According to the U.N. Refugee Agency and the World Health Organization, more than 650,000 people have been displaced and 486 people, including 84 children, have been killed in Israel's recently expanded operations in Lebanon targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. [more]
• After spiking to nearly $120 per barrel yesterday, the price of benchmark Brent crude oil has receded to about $90.21 today following U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion that the war in Iran may not last long. European, Asian, and U.S. stock markets rallied following Trump's assertion. [more]
• Government officials in both Thailand and Vietnam have urged voluntary restrictions on travel as part of efforts to counter disruptions to oil and gas supplies from the war in the Middle East, though both nations continue to assert that they are not facing an oil shortage. [more]

U.S. MILITARY AND AI | Leading artificial intelligence firm Anthropic filed a lawsuit yesterday, challenging the Department of Defense move last week to designate the company a "supply chain risk, thereby ending U.S. government use of Anthropic's products. The Pentagon move followed Anthropic's refusal to allow use of its AI tools for mass surveillance or autonomous military targeting. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | Two-term California U.S. Representative Kevin Kiley announced yesterday that he is leaving the Republican Party, effective immediately, and will serve as an independent going forward. Kiley's move narrows the Republican majority in the House of Representatives to 217-214. [more]

U.S. EVENT TICKETS | The Justice Department announced a tentative settlement of a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation yesterday in which the companies were charged with operating an illegal monopoly over live events in the United States. Reports note that the settlement will still require approval by the judge overseeing the case and that multiple state attorneys general have indicated they will continue to pursue their cases against Live Nation. [more]

OREGON | U.S. District Judge Michael Simon issued a preliminary injunction yesterday barring the use of tear gas at protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland unless someone poses an imminent threat of physical harm. In his ruling, Simon characterized Department of Homeland Security agents' conduct against peaceful protesters and journalists as "objectively chilling." [more]

WYOMING | Governor Mark Gordon signed Wyoming's new abortion limitation measure into law yesterday, banning abortion after fetal cardiac activity can be detected, which reports note is usually at about six weeks' gestation and often before women know they are pregnant. [more]

SOUTH SUDAN | The U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan said yesterday that it would not comply with a government order to evacuate the opposition-held town of Akobo ahead of planned military operations. Mission chief Anita Kiki Gbeho said the U.N. force would remain in the town to provide a "protective presence for civilians." [more]

COLOMBIA | President Gustavo Petro's Historical Pact party won nearly a quarter of all Senate seats in Colombia's elections Sunday, meaning Petro will have to build a coalition government to push forward with his planned labor, economic, and security reforms. [more]

AUSTRALIA AND IRAN | Australia granted asylum yesterday to five members of the Iranian national women's soccer team who were in the country for a tournament when the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war began. [more]

HAITI | In a report released today, humanitarian group Human Rights Watch says at least 1,243 people were killed by drone strikes carried out by security forces and private contractors working with them in anti-gang operations in Haiti between March 1, 2025, and January 21, 2026. At least 43 adults who were reportedly not members of criminal groups and 17 children were among those killed in the drone strikes, according to the report. [full report] [more]

CHINESE ECONOMY | According to data released today by China’s customs agency, Chinese exports increased by about 22% in the first two months of 2026, compared to the year-ago period, bolstered by increases in computer chip, automobile, and electronics exports. Reports note that Chinese exports to the U.S. fell 11% over the two-month period, while those to the E.U. and Latin America rose 28% and 16%, respectively. [more]

AUTO INDUSTRY | In its annual report to shareholders, German automaker Volkswagen announced plans to cut 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 amidst a sharp decline in 2025 profits and ongoing effects of U.S. import tariffs. The company says all of its groups, including Audi and Porsche, will be affected by the cuts. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1959, thousands of Tibetans rebelled against occupying Chinese forces, surrounding the Dalai Lama’s palace to protect him from potential harm. Fierce fighting between Tibetans and Chinese forces ensued in the following days, causing the Dalai Lama to flee Tibet for India. [more history]