Iran and beyond
(Thomas Bordeaux, Gianluca Mezzofiore – CNN) New satellite images from several key military bases in the Arabian Peninsula suggest that Iran is seeking to degrade air defenses by destroying US-made radars that detect incoming missiles and drones. The radar system for an American THAAD missile battery in Jordan was struck and apparently destroyed in the first days of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, a satellite image taken on Monday shows. Buildings housing similar radar systems were also hit at two locations in the United Arab Emirates, CNN analysis shows, although it is unclear if the equipment was damaged. The radar is a critical element for the high-end missile interceptor system, which is used to engage and destroy ballistic missiles as they fly toward their target. The US operates eight THAAD batteries, while the UAE operates two and Saudi Arabia one. This one was at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, over 500 miles from Iran. – Radar systems for US THAAD missile batteries hit in Jordan and UAE, satellite images show | CNN
(Jessie Yeung – CNN) Nearly a week into the latest Middle East conflict, Iran’s strikes in the region have decreased significantly – while US attacks on Iran continue ramping up and Israeli strikes prompt panic in southern Beirut. The Trump administration warns the war will soon escalate – and NATO allies are reluctantly getting pulled into the conflict. – Everything we know on the seventh day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran | CNN
(Hanna Ziady, John Liu – CNN) The conflict raging in the Middle East will test the resilience of a global economy buffeted by tariffs and other trade disruptions over the past year. Barely a week into the latest turmoil in the region, there are already signs of strain along the carefully orchestrated arteries of global trade: from rice exports stuck at ports in India to spikes in the price of fertilizer critical to food production. A prolonged war that keeps energy prices high could drive up inflation and, with it, interest rates, piling pain on borrowers. Meanwhile, threats to cargo ships could snag supply chains, further raising prices for businesses and consumers. – Surging energy prices and threats to shipping. How the Middle East war could hurt the global economy | CNN Business
(Joseph Haboush – Al Arabiya) The US military is confident in its operational plan against Iran, the top US commander for the Middle East said Thursday, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed to “dramatically” increase attacks on the Iranian regime. US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Adm. Brad Cooper said American forces anticipated Iran’s capabilities and built their strategy accordingly. – US confident in Iran war plan, Pentagon chief vows surge in attacks
Azerbaijan
(Colin Demarest – Axios) Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the U.S. told Axios his country is taking “appropriate defensive and precautionary measures” following an Iranian drone strike on the Nakhchivan exclave. Asked if he was worried about another attack, ambassador Khazar Ibrahim said it’s “not about worrying.” Instead: “We are calculating, we are looking at facts, and we are making decisions.”. Why it matters: The salvo, which Iran denied responsibility for, again widens a war that is just days-old and has killed many, including American troops. – Exclusive: Azerbaijan wants “official explanation” from Iran after drone attack
Critical Minerals
(UN News) Critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt are central to the transition to a zero-carbon economy. As the Security Council meets on Thursday to discuss “energy, critical minerals and security,” here is some of the work the UN is doing to ensure that the transition is just and equitable. Despite geopolitical upheavals, the shift from a fossil-fuel-based global economy to one driven by clean electrification remains on track. According to the International Energy Agency (an autonomous international agency that is not part of the UN system), lithium demand grew by nearly 30 per cent in 2024, and nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths by 6–8 per cent. The growth of EVs, batteries and renewables is driving a major surge in demand for critical minerals. From the UN Secretary-General to several agencies and entities, the UN system has been issuing guidance, convening meetings and producing reports on the mining and exploitation of these minerals, aimed at making sure that as many people as possible benefit from a cleaner, low carbon global economy. – UN calls for fair play in the global race for critical minerals | UN News
US
(Hannah Rabinowitz, Casey Tolan, Paula Reid, Isabelle Chapman – CNN) The Justice Department has posted online three FBI memos describing interviews related to unverified sexual assault allegations against President Donald Trump that had been missing from the massive trove of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice. A CNN analysis discovered dozens of witness interviews were missing from the online archive of evidence related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, all of which were memorialized in so-called “302” memos laying out what an interviewee told FBI agents. The 302s do not include other corroborating information or agents’ opinions. Among the missing records were three memos about interviews with a woman who told agents that Epstein had repeatedly abused her physically and sexually decades ago, starting when she was approximately 13 years old, and who also accused Trump of sexually assaulting her. Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. In a statement Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the claims from the FBI interviews as “completely baseless accusations, backed by zero credible evidence.” She also questioned the credibility of the accuser, whose name is redacted in the files, pointing to her criminal record. – Epstein files: Justice Department posts FBI interview memos related to Trump sex abuse allegation | CNN Politics
(Marc Caputo, Brittany Gibson – Axios) President Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday after he consulted allies and advisers — all of whom told him it was time for her to go, sources tell Axios. “She burnt up a ton of goodwill,” an adviser who spoke with Trump told Axios. “It was everywhere. It was everything.”. Why it matters: Trump’s firing of Noem was the biggest personnel shake-up of his second term. It showed the backlash against her was so great that Trump was willing to dismiss the nation’s domestic security chief as he’s launching a war abroad. Driving the news: The ice under Noem was getting thinner and thinner even before this week, when she made two humiliating appearances before House and Senate committees. – How the ice finally broke under Kristi Noem
(Hadas Gold – CNN) Anthropic on Thursday said a Pentagon designation of the AI company as a “supply chain risk to America’s national security” won’t impact their business partners as heavily as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth implied last week. Hegseth had announced in a post on X that, as a result of a breakdown in contract negotiations with the AI company on Friday, “no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic” as part of the supply chain risk designation, a label usually reserved for companies tied to foreign adversaries. But Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said Thursday in a statement that the language in the Pentagon’s letter on the designation means military contractors are only banned from using their AI model Claude “as a direct part of contracts with the Department of War, not all use of Claude by customers who have such contracts.”. The Pentagon and Anthropic have been at odds over restrictions the company places on the use of Claude, the first AI system to be used in the military’s classified network. The government’s response sparked fears of a blacklist eating into Anthropic’s business. – Pentagon’s supply chain risk label for Anthropic narrower than initially implied, company says | CNN Business
(Maria Curi – Axios) The Pentagon has formally designated Anthropic a supply chain risk, as CEO Dario Amodei apologized Thursday for a leaked memo criticizing the Trump administration. Why it matters: The dispute has raised fundamental questions over AI governance and cast a shadow over the industry’s relationship with Washington. – Anthropic CEO apologizes for leaked memo criticizing Trump
(Andrew Solender – Axios) Attorney General Pam Bondi may suffer the most collateral damage from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s firing, with congressional Democrats now saying it gives them space to focus their criticism and scrutiny squarely on her. Why it matters: Bondi has already faced intense flak from Congress over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, with lawmakers in both parties accusing her of being insufficiently transparent. – Democrats turn their sights to Pam Bondi after Kristi Noem’s firing
(Nathan Bomey – Axios) The Trump administration is reportedly weighing rules that would require foreign buyers to obtain licenses from the U.S. government to buy American AI chips. Why it matters: The AI chips sector has been flourishing as tech companies ramp up their spending on data centers and new AI models, underpinning the broader market. The big picture: The draft regulations would give “Washington broad control over whether other countries can build facilities for training and running artificial-intelligence models — and under what conditions,” Bloomberg reported Thursday. – Nvidia and AMD chips could be subject to U.S. approvals for foreign sales
(Kate Santaliz – Axios) The House on Thursday rejected an effort to advance legislation that would restrict President Trump from using further military action in Iran. Why it matters: The failed vote amounts to an endorsement of Trump’s military campaign in Iran from Congress, which has the constitutional authority to declare war. – House rejects Iran war powers measure
US – Venezuela
(Rebecca Falconer – Axios) The U.S. and Venezuela “have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations,” the State Department announced Thursday. Why it matters: The historic deal with a former U.S. foe comes as President Trump pushes to apply his actions in Caracas that led to the capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro to Iran, telling Axios Thursday that he must be involved in picking a successor to assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei. – US, Venezuela to re-establish diplomatic ties after historic agreement
