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1 Secretary of State Marco Rubio Orders US Diplomats To Push Countries For Swift Action Against Iran
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sent a private directive to U.S. diplomats around the world, ordering them to urge foreign governments to take swift action against Iran and its proxy groups amid what the State Department is calling an "elevated risk of attack." The cable, labeled an "action request" and obtained by ABC News, was sent to all U.S. diplomatic and consular posts and instructs officials to deliver its message at the highest possible level by Friday. The cable also warns of Iranian assassination and espionage plots carried out on foreign soil, framing the military campaign as a matter of shared global security. President Trump separately said yesterday that a list of countries agreeing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be announced soon, suggesting the diplomatic push is gaining some traction. A State Department spokesperson confirmed the administration's focus on ending what it called Iran's "campaign of terror."
2 Federal Judge Block RFK Jr.'s Changes To Childhood Vaccine Schedule
A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from implementing major changes to the nation's childhood vaccination schedule. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, a Biden appointee, sided with the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical organizations that argued that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. violated federal law when he overhauled the CDC's vaccine advisory committee and reduced the number of recommended childhood vaccines. The ruling also froze the appointments of newly installed committee members and forced the postponement of a scheduled meeting. HHS said it expected the ruling to be overturned, while medical advocates called it a win for public health.
3 Retired Air Force Major General Still Missing
Authorities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are intensifying their search for retired Air Force Major General William "Neil" McCasland, 68, who has been missing since February 27th. McCasland was last seen at his home that morning, when a repairman visited at 10 am; when his wife returned from a medical appointment just before noon, he was gone. He left his phone behind, and no confirmed sightings have been made since. A gray Air Force sweatshirt was found about a mile and a quarter from his home, though the family has not confirmed it was his. His wallet, a .38 caliber revolver, and a red backpack are also unaccounted for. McCasland had reportedly mentioned experiencing a "mental fog" in the period leading up to his disappearance; the FBI is assisting in the search.