Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 Iran Conflict: No Deal After Talks In Pakistan, CENTCOM Says US Blockade Of Strait Of Hormuz Starts Today
The Iran war entered a dangerous new phase yesterday after more than 21 hours of U.S.-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan collapsed without a deal. Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation along with senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, said the talks broke down because Iran was unwilling to give up its nuclear ambitions. He left open the door to further negotiations, saying the U.S. left "a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer." Hours after the talks collapsed, President Trump announced on Truth Social that the U.S. Navy would immediately begin "blockading any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz," and that it would seek to intercept every vessel that had paid tolls to Iran. He also said the U.S. would begin destroying mines Iran has laid in the Strait. Iran's Revolutionary Guard responded sharply, warning that military vessels approaching the strait "will be dealt with harshly and decisively." Iran's parliament speaker posted a map of U.S. gas prices near the White House, sarcastically predicting they would soon soar even higher.
2 California Rep. Eric Swalwell Suspends Campaign For Governor Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
The political fallout from sexual misconduct allegations against California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell escalated into a potential bipartisan wave of House expulsion votes yesterday. Swalwell suspended his California governor campaign after a former staffer alleged he sexually assaulted her; Swalwell denies the allegations. Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna plans to force an expulsion vote on Swalwell as early as midweek, and Democrats are expected to counter with a vote to expel Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, who admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Additional expulsion votes may target GOP Rep. Corey Mills and Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, both facing unresolved ethics scandals. Expelling a member requires a two-thirds majority and has only happened six times in U.S. history.
3 Artemis II Crew Makes First Public Appearance Since A Perfect Splashdown On Friday
The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis II mission returned home safely Friday after a 10-day, 695,000-mile journey around the moon, the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years. The Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 8:07 p.m. ET in what NASA called a textbook landing. The crew, Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, made their first public appearance Saturday in Houston, where they were welcomed at Johnson Space Center to cheers and emotional remarks. Wiseman called it "the most special thing that will ever happen in my life." NASA officials declared it the start of a new era of space exploration, with a crewed lunar landing planned for 2028.