AFGHANISTAN - Afghanistan has threatened retaliation after Pakistani airstrikes on its territory reportedly killed at least 18 people and left several others injured. The attack was carried out overnight on Saturday in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika. According to Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry, “various civilian areas” were hit, including a religious school and residential homes. At least 18 people, including women and children, were reportedly killed, and several others injured. Pakistan defended the action as a “retributive response” to a recent suicide bombing, including one at a Shiite place of worship earlier this month that killed at least 31 people and injured nearly 170. Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

MIDDLE EAST - In recent hours, multiple USAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft have been shuttling between the Gulf, Souda Bay, Sofia and Ramstein Air Base, highlighting the scale of the logistical effort behind the ongoing American military buildup toward the Middle East. These heavy transports, some departing directly from the Gulf and others repositioning from Eastern Europe, are now forming a continuous bridge with Germany. The operation underscores how sustainment — not just combat aircraft — is shaping the strategic picture. The flights tracked today include several C-17s rotating northbound toward Ramstein, which is once again acting as the primary European hub for onward distribution. Aircraft previously surged into Gulf bases and forward locations are now being supported by a constant flow of airlift traffic. This is not routine traffic.

CUBA - The Trump administration has escalated its pressure against Cuba’s communist government, curbing oil supplies and threatening tariffs on countries that continue to ship fuel to the island as part of an effort to force regime change. Since the United States captured former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in January, the Trump administration has turned its focus on Cuba. The relationship between Cuba and the United States has been difficult for nearly seven decades, following Fidel Castro’s communist revolution in 1959. The slate of punitive trade policies adopted to punish the toppling of the US-backed government by Castro has fluctuated diplomatic relations over the decades. This move comes as Mexico became Cuba’s main source of oil following the capture of Maduro, which stopped shipments of Venezuelan oil to Havana.

USA - The blizzard that hit the Northeast on Monday looked like it could have been pulled directly out of a Hollywood disaster movie. Everyone knew that it was going to be bad, but it turned out to be significantly worse than most of the experts were projecting. Multiple states have recorded more than 2 feet of snow. Multiple states have recorded hurricane-force winds. The Northeast has just been hit by one of the worst blizzards in history, and the snow is still falling in many areas. The reason why this storm turned out to be so powerful is because it intensified extremely fast just before it struck. The central pressure of the storm fell by 40 millibars in just 24 hours, and Accuweather is telling us that this represents “a dramatic drop that is even rare for powerful hurricanes”… This was clearly one of the worst blizzards in the entire history of the Northeast.

UK - It seems as if every month a new story comes out of Britain warning about the likelihood of future civil war. Retired colonel Richard Kemp recently gave a television interview during which he warned that the “Islamification” of the United Kingdom would lead to “inevitable conflict.” Kemp’s point of view carries the added weight of someone who has witnessed insurgent fighting firsthand. A former commander who carried out counter-insurgency operations in Northern Ireland, led British forces in Afghanistan, and held intelligence roles in Westminster, Kemp says Islamic immigrants’ refusal to integrate into British society means that things in the UK are “getting bad” and about to “get worse.”

USA - World supply chains have already been reconfigured, and it is too late to put them all back in place. As news broke that the Supreme Court had ruled that his tariffs were illegal, Donald Trump reacted with characteristic fury. The decision was a “disgrace”; the judges have been swayed by “foreign interests”. But he claims to have a back-up plan ready to go. Over the next few days, he may well use all the power of his office to find a way of reimposing additional levies on everything America imports, on top of the 10 percent he has already announced. And yet in the end, for all the drama of the decision, it may not make a great deal of difference. In reality, the tariffs have already fundamentally reshaped the global economy – and there will be no return to the old order now. That is the new reality, and one that president Trump has created. It will take more than six Supreme Court justices to stop that process now.

USA - The Supreme court did not order Trump to end tariffs. Many media outlets are reporting that the Supreme Court ordered President Donald Trump to stop levying tariffs. However, the reality is more nuanced and does not prevent Trump from imposing tariffs altogether. The Court ruled only that he could not levy tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA); however, the president has several other options available.

USA - Stephen Miller unleashes: "As horrendous as the Supreme Court ruling was, as poorly as it reflects on John Roberts' court and the continued Torturing of our statutes and our constitution, here's the good news!" "The court also affirmed the president has the authority under section 301, section 232, section 122, section 338, and many other provisions of federal law, that the president can levy tariffs on foreign nations." "So his program will not only be fully reconstituted, but it will be EXPANDED." "The Supreme Court also affirmed that under IEEPA, the president has authority to restrict, impede, deny, license, or even fully embargo any foreign trade." "So the net result of all this is we're going to keep and grow the tariffs to bring back American manufacturing, which keeps prices low by incentivizing products to be made here in America." "But it also means that President Trump has even more tools when it comes to dealing with foreign countries that undermine our security."

ISRAEL - As global rivalry intensifies and the post–Cold War order fades, Israel must navigate a dangerous and tricky new era shaped by antisemitism and regional threats. The new order is being shaped by intense economic rivalry and rapidly increasing military friction. The main players are the United States and China. There are secondary players with the ability to shift the balance of power: Russia, India, and a few others. The rest are small ships tossed around by a huge storm engulfing the world. In the coming years, every country will face the critical task of finding its own place in the new “Big Game.” For Israel, facing lethal threats from its regional foes and threatened by the rise of awakened and strengthened worldwide antisemitism, that task is of existential importance. Its success or failure will determine Israel’s destiny in the coming decades.

USA - The USS Gerald R Ford will probably not be in position to strike until next week. The position of the USS Gerald R Ford, the most powerful aircraft carrier in the world, is of interest here. Her arrival in the Eastern Med is seen by many as an essential precursor to action. This is not correct, but it is an indicator. Having the Ford in position to strike Iran, and potentially to defend Israel, would significantly add to the firepower provided by the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf of Oman and the many other US assets in the region. In a full-scale scenario, if Iran launches all available missiles and drones and sends out all its fast-attack craft, submarines and ships, it may manage to inflict serious losses on the US, up to and including the sinking of one or more US warships – though probably not the carriers. The stakes are high.