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Iran tensions spike as GOP unity cracks; Ukraine inks first Gulf defense deal with Saudi; Senate advances DHS funding; plus grim assault cases, a whale family rallying for a calf, and a $1M C-3PO head

Afghan asylum seeker sentenced to prison for raping a 12-year-old girl

Ahmad Mulakhil, an Afghan asylum seeker, has been jailed for raping a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton in July last year, an attack that later sparked protests.

Mother, sister, and daughter whales unite to support a newborn calf

Mother, sister, and daughter whales were seen working together to support a newborn calf, a moment Project CETI’s Shane Gero described as remarkable teamwork in the face of a difficult challenge.

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia Announce Defense Cooperation Deal, Kyiv’s First Agreement in the Gulf

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed a defense cooperation document, marking Kyiv’s first deal in the Gulf as it seeks new partnerships. The agreement comes as Middle Eastern countries look to Ukraine’s expertise in countering drones.

Russian man jailed for four years after assaulting woman, with Trump’s son calling UK police

Matvei Rumiantsev, 23, has been sentenced to four years at Snaresbrook Crown Court for assaulting a woman in east London and for perverting the course of justice by urging her from prison to withdraw her complaint. The attack was seen on a FaceTime call after he answered the victim’s phone and showed her crying on the floor; Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron, then phoned City of London Police to report the emergency. Rumiantsev was acquitted of rape and intentional strangulation charges linked to the same incident and of separate rape and assault allegations from November 2024.

The world is rediscovering chokepoints, and they are not only geographic

The world is rediscovering chokepoints, and the real vulnerabilities extend beyond physical passages at sea. A narrow focus on the Strait of Hormuz risks overlooking the broader set of strategic bottlenecks—economic, technological, and political—that can disrupt trade, energy supplies, and security.

Republican unity on the Iran war is beginning to fracture

GOP support for the Iran war is showing early cracks, with some key Republicans voicing growing concerns about how long the conflict could last, what Donald Trump’s endgame is, whether US ground troops might be deployed, and the political fallout the party would have to own. One House Republican warned that sending in ground troops could trigger a catastrophic midterm backlash, costing the party an estimated 60 to 70 seats.

IRGC Warning Raises Fears of Further Escalation in Iran-US Conflict Despite Ongoing Talks

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned civilians across the Middle East to stay away from US military bases on Friday, heightening fears that the Iran-US confrontation could intensify even as talks are said to be ongoing. The warning comes with the Strait of Hormuz still blocked, tensions with Washington rising, and continued strikes across Iran.

Senate passes overnight bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security as shutdown fight nears an end

The Senate passed an overnight measure to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, moving lawmakers closer to resolving the ongoing funding standoff. Other major developments include Donald Trump setting a deadline tied to potential strikes on Iranian energy targets amid renewed negotiations, and a report that the Pentagon is considering deploying about 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East.

C-3PO Head from The Empire Strikes Back Sells for $1 Million at Auction

A C-3PO head from The Empire Strikes Back sold for $1 million at auction, leading a lineup of film memorabilia that also included Robert Shaw’s harpoon gun from Jaws, a Wilson volleyball from Cast Away, and fragments of a sword from The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

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