Philippines Warns of ‘Sabotage’ after Cyanide Seizure in Disputed South China Sea Atoll

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The Philippines discovered cyanide on Chinese boats operating around a disputed atoll in the South China Sea, security officials from the country said on Monday.

Authorities ‌said laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the highly toxic substance in bottles seized by the ‌Philippine navy in operations at Second Thomas Shoal last year.

Officials warned that the cyanide could have had serious consequences for marine ​life and weakened the reef supporting a warship that Manila grounded on the atoll to reinforce its maritime claim.

“We wish to underscore that the use of cyanide in Ayungin Shoal is a form of sabotage that seeks to kill local fish populations, depriving Navy personnel of a vital food source,” Cornelio Valencia, National Security Council ‌spokesperson, told a press conference using the ⁠Philippines’ name for the atoll.

Valencia added that cyanide could damage the reef and “ultimately compromise” the warship’s stability. (Read more from “Philippines Warns of ‘Sabotage’ after Cyanide Seizure in Disputed South China Sea Atoll” HERE)

Hungary’s Viktor Orbán Concedes Defeat after ‘Painful’ Election that Ended Trump Ally’s 16 Years in Power

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Hungarian right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded defeat Sunday after suffering a “painful” election result that ended the Trump administration ally’s 16-year grip on Budapest.

With 60% of the vote counted by afternoon, Orbán’s governing Fidesz party saw only 38% of ballots cast in its favor, compared to 52% for challenger Peter Magyar’s Tisza’s group.

’Thank you, Hungary!’’ Magyar, 45, posted on X as thousands of his supporters celebrated in Budapest.

Orbán, who received the backing of President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, said he called Magyar to concede the race once it was evident his party had lost.

“I congratulated the victorious party,” Orbán told his supporters. “We are going to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from opposition as well.’’ (Read more from “Hungary’s Viktor Orbán Concedes Defeat after ‘Painful’ Election that Ended Trump Ally’s 16 Years in Power” HERE)

China Plans to Deliver Air Defense Systems to Iran During Fragile Cease-Fire Deal: Report

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China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran in the next few weeks, according to a report citing sources with knowledge of US intelligence.

The move would be “provocative,” according to CNN, considering China played a major role in brokering the fragile cease-fire deal between Iran and the US earlier this week.

Beijing is working to route shipments through third countries to hide the backroom trade — which involves shoulder-fired anti-air missile systems known as MANPADs, multiple US intelligence sources told CNN.

The weapons — which use heat-seeking guidance to lock onto an aircraft’s engine or exhaust — posed a major threat to the US military during the five-week war, with one nearly taking out a F/A-18 Super Hornet last week.

The F-15 fighter jet that was shot down over Iran last week was targeted by a “handheld shoulder missile, [a] heat-seeking missile,” Trump said Monday, though it’s not clear whether it had been provided by China. (Read more from “China Plans to Deliver Air Defense Systems to Iran During Fragile Cease-Fire Deal: Report” HERE)

Iran Holds Huge Victory Parade with Thousands Spilling onto the Streets of Tehran as Ceasefire Falls Apart

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Thousands of Iranians have gathered in the streets to commemorate the death of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei as hopes of a ceasefire with the US and Israel began to unravel.

Supporters of Khamenei held portraits of their deceased leader and waved the flags of the Islamic republic as they took part in rallies across the country after he died in the US-Israeli attack on February 28.

The celebration marks a 40-day mourning period – an important rite of passage for Muslims – since the former leader’s death.

A huge gathering took place in the capital, Tehran, where strikes have ceased since a fragile ceasefire came into effect on Tuesday night, as well as the northwest city of Urmia and northeast Gorgan.

But over a day since reaching an 11th hour agreement to halt attacks for two weeks, it looks on the verge of collapse, with major disagreements between the US, Israel and Iran over the terms of a deal. (Read more from “Iran Holds Huge Victory Parade with Thousands Spilling onto the Streets of Tehran as Ceasefire Falls Apart” HERE)

Israel Pounds Lebanon Despite ‘Fragile’ Ceasefire

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Israel unleashed a bombing campaign in Lebanon on Wednesday despite a recent ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated in an X post that it “completed the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion,” targeting Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays and command centers. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly agreed that fighting in Lebanon could continue during a phone call in the lead-up to the ceasefire, Axios reported.

At least 89 people have been killed and more than 700 wounded in the strikes Wednesday, The Associated Press reported, citing Lebanese Health Ministry figures. More than 1,500 people have been killed since the conflict began in March, with another million displaced.

Hezbollah had stopped its attacks early Wednesday morning as the ceasefire took effect, Reuters reported, citing three Lebanese sources.

“Hezbollah was informed that it is part of the ceasefire – so we abided by it, but Israel as usual has violated it and committed massacres all across Lebanon,” senior Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim al-Moussawi, told Reuters. (Read more from “Israel Pounds Lebanon Despite ‘Fragile’ Ceasefire” HERE)

Trump, Iran Agree to Two-Week Ceasefire

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President Donald Trump and the Islamic Republic of Iran both announced on Tuesday evening just before the U.S. president’s deadline for a deal that they have agreed to a two-week ceasefire while negotiators finalize a deal between the warring nations.

Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce that he has agreed to the ceasefire urged by the Pakistani Prime Minister:

The Iranian Foreign Minister confirmed that Iran has also agreed to the two-week ceasefire:

(Read more from “Trump, Iran Agree to Two-Week Ceasefire” HERE)

Mysterious Christian Artifact Found Near Jesus’ Ministry: ‘No known parallel’

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Archaeologists have uncovered a one-of-a-kind artifact near the Sea of Galilee that may reveal new details about how early Christians practiced baptism.

The 1,400-year-old artifact was recently found in the ancient city of Hippos, a prominent bishop’s seat during the Byzantine era, according to a March 30 press release shared with Fox News Digital.

The city was once the only Christian city around the Sea of Galilee, controlling territory associated with Jesus’ ministry.

The marble block was found in a hall of baptism called a photisterion. It may shed light on “a stage of the early Christian baptismal rite that has until now gone unrecorded,” officials said.

Hippos’ cathedral had two baptismal halls: one for adults, and another for infants and children, which is where the new object was found. (Read more from “Mysterious Christian Artifact Found Near Jesus’ Ministry: ‘No known parallel’” HERE)

Iran Appears to be Preparing for Trump to Follow Through with Threat

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The Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone in southwest Iran has been evacuated amid threats by President Donald Trump to bomb Iranian energy infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.

The zone’s public relations office said all personnel was ordered to evacuate by the region’s emergency command committee, Iran International reported.

Trump’s threats came amid Tehran’s reluctance to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He set a Tuesday night deadline before warning of dire consequences. (Read more from “Iran Appears to be Preparing for Trump to Follow Through with Threat” HERE)

The Iran Ceasefire Talks Have Imploded

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Operation Epic Fury will continue, as the Iranians have rejected all US demands, even refusing to meet with Trump officials in Islamabad. This conflicts with Trump’s claims that the supposedly new regime is more transparent and open to a deal. The Iranian government is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. You can’t trust them. The Obama team did, and they got played like a fiddle. For now, the ceasefire talks have collapsed (via WSJ):

The current round of efforts by regional countries led by Pakistan to reach a cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran has reached a dead end, mediators said Friday.

Iran has officially told the mediators it isn’t willing to meet U.S. officials in Islamabad in the coming days and that U.S. demands are unacceptable, the mediators said.

Turkey and Egypt are still pushing to find a way forward and are considering new venues for the talks, including the Qatari capital Doha, or Istanbul, along with fresh proposals to overcome the deadlock, the mediators said.

(Read more from “The Iran Ceasefire Talks Have Imploded” HERE)

Iran Threatens to ‘Rain Fire’ on US Troops

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Iran threatened to rain fire on U.S. troops if President Donald Trump escalates the war to a ground invasion as both parties work to come to an agreement to end the fighting.

The war has reached its 30-day mark and there are indications that it could become even more intense — especially if the U.S. sends in ground troops.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf recently accused Washington of planning to send ground troops into Iran’s borders, according to CNN.

“The enemy signals negotiation in public, while in secret it plots a ground attack,” he said, further warning that Iranian military forces are already “waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can rain fire upon them.”

Meanwhile, the United States is still considering its options. While the president has not taken a ground invasion off the table, it appears he is looking for other ways to pressure the Iranian regime.

The president has floated the idea of seizing Kharg Island to squash Iran’s oil revenue while destroying the regime’s ability to close down the Strait of Hormuz to mitigate its impact on the price of oil and other resources.

(Read more from “Iran Threatens to ‘Rain Fire’ on US Troops” HERE)