Ukraine has announced its interest in purchasing 10 Patriot air defense batteries from the U.S. for $15 billion. If the deal moves forward, Ukraine would become the second-largest operator of Patriot systems in the world, behind only the U.S. With its current systems included, Ukraine could have close to 100 missile launchers—enough to potentially close its airspace to Russian ballistic missiles.
A report by The Telegraph highlights a growing number of young people converting to Catholicism in Britain.
In the country’s largest Catholic diocese, Westminster, at least 500 people are set to become Roman Catholics this Easter, with half being baptized, while around 450 will do the same in the Diocese of Southwark.
China has urged the U.S. to “completely cancel” the reciprocal tariffs.
“We urge the United States to take a major step toward correcting its mistakes, fully cancel the wrongful practice of ‘reciprocal tariffs,’ and return to the right path of mutual respect,” a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.
A mother was banned from her daughter's primary school after complaining that the school was teaching children about transgender identity.
Karina Conway, 42, was ordered to stay away from the playground before being told—eight months later—that she could return if she agreed not to post anything negative about the school, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Russia may lose more than 1 trillion rubles in government revenue this year due to plummeting oil prices, according to the FT.
That number, roughly 2.5% of the Russian state budget, comes as Russian oil trades over $20 a barrel less than Russian budget planners forecasted.
According to the Wall Street Journal, while today’s nuclear talks in Muscat were carried out from two separate rooms while the Foreign Minister of Oman, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, acted as an intermediary between the delegations; a brief face-to-face discussion did occur at the end between White House Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, which is said to have lasted a few minutes and was conducted once again in the presence of Oman’s Foreign Minister. This would be the highest-level meeting between a U.S. and Iranian official since September 2017. During the talks, Iran presented Omani officials with their “red lines” stating that denuclearization was not on the table, but claiming that they were open to discussing a return to levels of uranium enrichment agreed upon under the 2015 nuclear deal, in exchange for sanctions relief from the United States.
While appearing to be brief, lasting only 2-3 hours, and indirect despite claims by the Trump Administration that the talks would be direct between the delegations; today’s nuclear talks in Oman between the United States and Iran are being described by both countries as “positive” in scope. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described today’s negotiations with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff as a “constructive and promising round of indirect talks,” while the White House described them as “very positive and constructive” adding that they have agreed to additional discussions next Saturday.
French and UK forces conducted a major operation over the western Black Sea yesterday.
Rafales and an E-2 from the French carrier Charles de Gaulle, French and British tankers, an RAF RC-135, and RAF Typhoons all operated together to conduct reconnaissance on Russian forces.
https://video.nostr.build/bc49b84550025430ed3c170f618abee53500c35a70b3f4045e28010c27d8e333.mp4
Trump backtracked on some tariffs, announcing today an exemption for tariffs previously applied to Big Tech. This exemption also applies to China, despite Trump having said he wouldn’t ease tariff pressure on Beijing. The decision was likely driven by strong domestic pressure from the tech sector, with over 70% of smartphones and computers sold in the U.S. being manufactured in China.
An Airbus A321-231 going by (IRAN05), a callsign primarily used by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has just departed from Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, likely destined for the Omani capital of Muscat for tomorrow’s nuclear talks with the United States.
As we approach tomorrow’s negotiations in Oman between the United States and Iran, we are continuing to hear similar language from both countries about what primary objective for the talks, though there appears to be two major splits. According to who is set to lead the U.S. delegation during the talks, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, the goal will be the “total denuclearization of Iran” and that the talks will be direct between the two delegation; while Iranian officials are continuing to claim that talks will be “indirect” through Omani mediators, and that any negotiations which start with denuclearization will be a “nonstarter” for Iran.
According to a release from U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Stockdale (DDG-106), will join two other ships of the class, USS Spruance (DDG-111) and USS Gravely (DDG-107), to aid southern border operations. The Stockdale left Naval Base San Diego earlier today. She will work with U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDET) on drug interdiction, homeland security, and humanitarian efforts in the NORTHCOM AOR.
Stockdale was deployed to the Central Command AOR last year and shot down Houthi one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (OWA-UAV) and anti-ship cruise missiles (AShCM) in a number of engagements.
In a rare sight, the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet posted several pictures today of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and her Carrier Strike Group in the Pacific on their final deployment before the Nimitz is decommissioned in 2026/2027. But that’s not the rare part, the rare part is the inclusion of the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), one of the Navy’s only three Zumwalt-Class Guided-Missile Stealth Destroyers, as part of Carrier Strike Group 11 (CSG-11), alongside the Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyers; USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), USS Gridley (DDG-101), and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123). Also included in the photo is the U.S. Navy Replenishment Tanker, USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205).
As his Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff meets in St. Petersburg with Russian President Vladimir Putin; U.S. President Donald J. Trump states in a post on Truth Social, “Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war - A war that should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened, if I were President!!!”
nostr:note1y4h5fa8u6r5drt3f03l00chz6qus0l8q04ec2f98npryjjz99ugscv7pt6
Chance of US-Iran nuclear deal in 2025 has risen to 45% as per traders on Polymarket.
How do you see this playing out?
According to a “Memorandum of Understanding” signed this week by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during his visit to Panama, the United States will be allowed to deploy troops to several Panamanian-controlled bases and security facilities along the Panama Canal for training, exercises and “other activities” authorized by Panama. In exchange the United States will recognize the sovereignty of Panama, while the Panamanian Government will retain control of all military bases and have to authorize any deployment to the country by the U.S. Armed Forces.
Another deal discussed during and prior to Secretary Hegseth’s visit, which would allow the reestablishment of U.S. military bases in Panama, was not agreed upon by Panamanian officials, who stated the deal was “unacceptable” and that it would be extremely unpopular in Panama. According to polls done in recent years, most Panamanians believe that while the 1989 Invasion by the United States was necessary at the time, it resulted in unnecessary destruction and death across the country; suggesting that many would not support a permanent presence by the U.S. military once again in Panama.
Axios: Trump ahead of Witkoff's meeting with Putin: "Russia has to get moving. Too many people are DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war - A war that should have never happened"
According to several European diplomats who spoke to Reuters, the United States did not inform key allies in Europe, including Britain, Germany and France, known as the E3, about this upcoming weekend’s nuclear talks in Oman with Iran, prior to Tuesday’s announced by U.S. President Donald J. Trump. This is despite the E3, as the only western countries still remaining in the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, being the only entities capable of reimposing major international sanctions against Iran, known as “snapback” in the JCPOA; with a senior European official stating, “The E3 do not trust the United States because it is taking initiatives without them being consulted.”
U.S. President Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff met this morning with the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev at the Grand Evropa Hotel in St. Petersburg. Witkoff is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later today, to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.
https://video.nostr.build/42102ece024f41b0cbc48a0332b5593a668f152aaab9691645c24fe194832d6e.mp4