Trump says he’ll have the ‘honor’ of ‘taking’ Cuba: ‘I can do anything’
With the Trump administration’s oil blockade cutting off fuel to Cuba, the country’s electrical grid collapsed Monday, causing an island-wide blackout. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, threatened again to topple the country’s communist government. “I do believe I’ll [have] the honor of taking Cuba,” Trump told reporters Monday afternoon. The repeated power cuts and blackouts have set off rare protests in the communist country in recent days. A White House official, asked for clarity about what the president meant Monday by “taking” Cuba, emphasized a deal.
Source:Washington Post
March 17, 2026 01:41 UTC
U.S. intelligence says Iran’s regime is consolidating power
Despite more than two weeks of relentless airstrikes, U.S. intelligence assessments say, Iran’s regime likely will remain in place for now, weakened but more hard-line, with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps security forces exerting greater control. The United States and Israel have significantly degraded Iran’s missile capability and navy, removed the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and wiped out scores of top military and intelligence leaders. Iran’s viselike grip on the Strait of Hormuz has slowed shipping traffic to a trickle, creating a historic oil disruption. Nonetheless, officials and analysts say, there are no overt signs of cracks or defections within Iran’s power structure. Inside Iran, regime supporters have grown more hard-line in two weeks of war, according to Aliasghar Shafieian, an adviser to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Source:Washington Post
March 17, 2026 00:40 UTC
Hickenlooper, Bennet Demand Secretary Kennedy Reverse Changes to CDC and FDA Websites that Promote False Information About Autism
In recent months, Secretary Kennedy directed the CDC to change its website to include false information suggesting a link between vaccines and autism. We demand that you provide accurate medical information and reverse the changes to CDC and FDA’s websites immediately,” the senators concluded. At your direction, the CDC changed its website, “Autism and Vaccines,” to include false information suggesting a link between vaccines and autism. We demand that you provide accurate medical information and reverse the changes to CDC and FDA’s websites immediately. Sincerely,[1] CBS News, CDC website is changed to include false claim about autism and vaccines, (Nov. 20, 2025)https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-website-change-vaccines-autism/[2] The New York Times, Kennedy Says He Told C.D.C.
Source:Washington Post
March 16, 2026 23:55 UTC
The ‘New Auschwitz’? Targeted Atrocities against Orthodox Amharas in Arsi, Oromia, Ethiopia
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented widespread human rights violations in multiple regions of the country, including Oromia and Amhara. Despite the gravity of these developments, the international response has often been perceived as limited compared with the scale of the humanitarian and human rights concerns involved. Atrocities in Arsi: A Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia’s Oromia RegionThe country of Ethiopia has been engulfed in war, massacres, and displacement at an alarming rate since Prime Minister Abiy came to power. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has documented a pattern of attacks affecting civilians in the area in its March 2026 reporting. Particularly troubling are reports of attacks against civilians in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region.
Source:Washington Post
March 16, 2026 21:56 UTC
White House chief of staff has breast cancer, Trump says
(CNN) — White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, President Donald Trump announced Monday. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Wiles has an “excellent” prognosis and will continue to work “virtually full time at the White House.”Other WRAL Top Stories“Her Strength and her Commitment to continue doing the job she loves, and does so well, while undergoing treatment, tells you everything you need to know about her,” he wrote. Trump did not specify how long Wiles is expected to receive treatment, or offer any additional details about her diagnosis. But he said that she “decided to take on this challenge, IMMEDIATELY, as opposed to waiting.”“She will soon be better than ever!” Trump wrote. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Source:CNN
March 16, 2026 20:28 UTC
Cuban leaders signal concessions to appease Trump, but also ensure their political survival
CountryUnited States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Ara
Source:Los Angeles Times
March 16, 2026 20:22 UTC
Analysis: Trump demands help from European allies to resolve Strait of Hormuz crisis
But his decision to ask for help from allies and other countries to resolve the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is the latest evidence that calls that into question. In fact, Trump repeatedly said he didn’t need help from other countries — including very recently — and he’s spent years alienating allies. “And so, I told him we don’t want — Spain has absolutely nothing that we need,” Trump said. “That’s OK, Prime Minister (Keir) Starmer, we don’t need them any longer,” Trump posted on social media. At the very least, it would suggest Trump didn’t imagine himself in this position.
Source:CNN
March 16, 2026 19:57 UTC
The Latest: US hits pro-government demonstration in Iran as war threatens global economy
All six crew members were killed when a U.S. military KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, the American military said. Concerns are growing that the war's stranglehold on Gulf oil exports is destabilizing the global economy. Brent crude oil, the international standard, remained over $100 per barrel as Iran kept its stranglehold on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Merz said the world is witnessing “a dangerous escalation,” and said Iran is “indiscriminately” carrying out attacks on countries across the Gulf region. — By Alanna Durkin Richer and Corey Williams▶ Read MoreHegseth says an officer has been picked to lead probe into Iran school strike
Source:Washington Post
March 16, 2026 19:56 UTC
Burdensome regulations don’t make safer railroads - The Washington Post
In largely overlooked remarks delivered last year in Paris, Vice President JD Vance delivered a policy master class on the industrial promise of artificial intelligence and the conditions required for innovation to flourish. The Staggers Rail Act freed the railroads to live up to those expectations again, spurring competition and innovation by reducing burdensome regulations. The most significant gains in rail safety have come from technological advancement, not government regulation. The information age brought massive improvements in rail operations, including computer-aided dispatch, radio frequency identification monitoring and infrared wayside detectors. The East Palestine derailment was a genuine tragedy, and it is understandable that well-meaning federal officials would overreact.
Source:Washington Post
March 16, 2026 19:16 UTC
Maine Beer Co. plans to expand its Freeport facility
Maine Beer Co. in Freeport aims to add an 11,000-square-foot production facility to double its beer output. (Courtesy of Maine Beer Co.)Maine Beer Co. is planning a roughly $18 million addition to its Freeport operations, allowing the company to increase its annual beer output. Steve Mills, CEO of Maine Beer Co., said the Freeport brewery does business in 29 states and Washington D.C., but the current production system is “stretched to the max.”“The demand for our beer is exceeding our ability to supply it,” Mills said. The new 11,000-square-foot production facility could double their output to more than 100,000 barrels a year if needed. Mills said Maine Beer co. is adding 57 parking spaces to its Freeport property.
Source:CNN
March 16, 2026 19:05 UTC
Bill would allow assisted living facilities to serve alcohol
NationalBill would allow assisted living facilities to serve alcoholMarch 16, 2026 | 6:42 PM GMTAnita LeBrun says everyone deserves a good happy hour, even those in assisted living facilities like her. At the Minnesota State Capitol, LeBrun spoke in support of a state bill that would allow nursing homes and assisted living facilities to host resident-focused events where alcohol can be consumed without requiring a liquor license.
Source:Washington Post
March 16, 2026 19:01 UTC
Drone warfare in Iran is teaching U.S. harsh lessons - The Washington Post
Nolan Peterson is a former U.S. Air Force pilot and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. After missions as an Air Force Special Operations pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan, I would let down my guard when I returned to base. Drone technology has brought a new reality to modern warfare, and what we’ve seen in Iran is just the tip of the iceberg. Although survival hinges on not being at the wrong place at the wrong time, I’ve seen how Ukrainian troops have gotten used to daily shelling. Even for battle-hardened Ukrainian troops, the prolific threat of small Russian drones elicits a different kind of fear.
Source:Washington Post
March 16, 2026 18:45 UTC
Pope Leo taps Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, to succeed retiring Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Bill in the News (CBS New York): Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said Dolan has been a compassionate defender of church teaching and a warmhearted leader, adding he wished the Pope would keep Dolan in the role a little longer. “To fill the shoes of Cardinal Dolan, good luck to the new archbishop of New York,” Donohue said. “Cardinal Dolan … is certainly loved by New Yorkers, and I don’t mean just by Catholics. I mean by non-Catholics as well. He’s one of the most courageous and honest priests I’ve ever met in my life.” READ MORE HERE
Source:CNN
March 16, 2026 18:31 UTC