Don Lemon has been released without bail.

Newly released U.S. Justice Department files show Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick planned a 2012 lunch visit to Epstein’s private island, despite later saying he had cut ties with Epstein years earlier.

The U.S. State Department approved more than $6.5 billion in potential military sales to Israel.

The deals include $1.98 billion for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, $3.8 billion for AH-64E Apache helicopters, and a third contract worth $740 million.

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BIG: Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman privately told Donald Trump that backing down on Iran “would only make Tehran stronger,” marking a shift from Saudi Arabia’s public calls for restraint and from MbS’s earlier warning that helped delay a strike.

Source: Axios

The U.S. government began a partial shutdown early Saturday after the House failed to pass a funding deal before the midnight deadline.

The Senate approved the measure 71–29, but the House is not expected to vote until Monday.

The shutdown is expected to be short. Lawmakers agreed to keep most agencies funded while separately debating immigration enforcement policies.

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Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced a proposed amnesty law that could free hundreds of detainees and apply to cases dating back to 1999.

The law would exclude those accused of killings, serious human rights abuses, or drug trafficking.

Rodríguez also said the notorious El Helicoide prison in Caracas — long accused of torture and abuse — will be turned into a sports and social services center.

The United States approved a $9bn weapons sale to Saudi Arabia, covering 730 Patriot missile interceptors and related defence equipment.

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"Persona Non Grata" South Africa Expels Israeli Diplomat

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U.S. diplomats in Jerusalem blocked a February 2024 USAID cable warning northern Gaza had become an “Apocalyptic Wasteland” after Israel’s offensive.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

If we can resolve the issues surrounding the nuclear file and reach a new nuclear agreement based on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, and if sanctions are lifted, then cooperation in areas such as energy and other projects based on mutual interests could follow.

We have never excluded the United States from our economic projects.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

We have drawn important lessons and gained valuable experience from the previous war.

At present, our ballistic missiles are in place, our strength remains intact, we have reviewed our key capabilities, and we are even better prepared.

This is the clearest message we can deliver to the United States: if there is an attack, we will respond with a shocking, swift, and very powerful counterstrike.

Q: Will the Axis of Resistance — such as Hezbollah and the Houthis — be activated?

Iranian FM Araghchi: We have the capability to defend ourselves, and we do not need anyone else.

Q: Have you received military support from Russia and China, or are you receiving it?

Iranian FM Araghchi: Do you really expect me to answer that question?

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

Sometimes they claim 30,000, sometimes 50,000 people have died. All of this is false.

The death toll is 3,117, as announced by the official authorities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

Regime change is nothing but a fantasy. Some people have fallen into this illusion.

Our system is so deeply rooted and has such strong foundations that the coming and going of individuals makes no difference.

The system remains in place and continues to function.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

We are not concerned with elections in Israel or anywhere else. We have prepared ourselves for every possibility.

I must say that there is no real democracy in Israel.

Iran’s Khamenei visited the mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini on Saturday.

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Israel carried out airstrikes on Gaza today, killing at least 21 people.

Iranian President Pezeshkian:

Justice is not proven by words, but by behavior. When we act fairly, people will see it and accept it.

No nation or society that stands on truth and justice can be defeated.

Ukraine’s Minister of Energy:

Today at 10:42, a technological disturbance occurred with the simultaneous disconnection of the 400 kV line between the power systems of Romania and Moldova, and the 750 kV line between the western and central parts of Ukraine.

This caused a cascade outage in Ukraine’s power grid and the activation of automatic protection systems at substations. Power units at nuclear power plants were unloaded (reduced output).

Currently, in Kyiv city, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv regions, the dispatcher has implemented special emergency outage schedules.

Energy workers from Ukrenergo are working to restore electricity supply. Power is expected to be restored within the next few hours.

Zelensky:

There were reports by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal on the emergency situation in Ukraine’s energy system caused by technological issues on the power lines between Ukraine’s energy system and Moldova.

All necessary response measures at the level of Ukraine’s energy system are in place, and restoration work is underway. The task is to stabilize the situation in the near future.