Russia's Vladimir Putin has formally condemned the U.S.-Israeli assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, calling it "a cynical violation of international law and morality" in an official letter (Russian state media). Pakistan launched airstrikes into Afghanistan amid escalating border tensions, opening a new regional flashpoint (BBC).
In Austin, Texas, a mass shooting has left 17 people dead (AP). Senator Ted Cruz is reportedly under consideration for a Supreme Court nomination (multiple outlets).
The Middle East has been thrust into its most volatile moment in decades following a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ending his 36-year rule. As retaliatory strikes ripple across the region and world leaders scramble to respond, the Trump administration is simultaneously reshaping its relationship with America's AI industry—embracing OpenAI for classified military work while blacklisting Anthropic over ethical red lines.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed in targeted U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on his Tehran compound, Iranian state television confirmed. President Trump announced the news on Truth Social, with Prime Minister Netanyahu corroborating the claim. The Assembly of Experts has moved to activate succession plans amid reports of mixed domestic reactions—official mourning alongside public celebration in some quarters.
Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, with strikes reportedly hitting U.S. military bases in the region, a school in Iran, and a luxury hotel in Dubai. The escalation has caused widespread international flight disruptions as airlines reroute around the conflict zone.
The operation marks a dramatic pivot in Trump's foreign policy toward explicit Iranian regime change. Democrats in Congress are demanding legislative restraints on the president's military powers, while key European allies have declined to endorse the strikes. Following a call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a diplomatic rift emerged as Britain, France, and Germany maintained distance from the military action—though Starmer condemned Iranian retaliation and confirmed British forces remain in a defensive posture.
The Trump administration is aggressively reshaping the military's AI partnerships. OpenAI has signed an agreement allowing the Department of Defense to deploy its models on classified networks, while rival Anthropic has been designated a "supply chain risk" and banned from federal contracts.
The split centers on ethical constraints. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's demands to remove usage policy restrictions barring AI-driven domestic mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems. OpenAI's deal, by contrast, incorporates what CEO Sam Altman described as safety principles the Department of War has "integrated into law and policy," including multi-layered safeguards, human oversight requirements, and termination rights.
OpenAI stated it opposes the risk designation applied to Anthropic while maintaining its own safety framework under the new defense contract. The announcement comes as OpenAI reached a record $840 billion valuation.
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, killing dozens and destroying significant infrastructure including the historic Ava Bridge and the Shwe Sar Yan Pagoda. Tremors were felt as far as Bangkok, where a high-rise building under construction collapsed and residents reported widespread panic. Rescue operations are ongoing.
The Trump administration has begun terminating staff at the CDC, FDA, and other major health agencies as part of a plan to eliminate 10,000 government health positions. The cuts follow an $11 billion reduction in health funding that Democratic-led states are suing to block. Other federal departments are offering buyout incentives to remaining staff.
Hillary Clinton testified she was unaware of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes while calling for Donald Trump to be questioned about his connections to the financier. Separately, at least 10 FBI agents involved in the Trump classified documents investigation were fired, and U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations in Geneva—now overtaken by events—had reportedly reached significant progress before the strikes.