U.S.-Iran deal hailed by supporters as historic "grand bargain".
Critics say accord legitimises and strengthens Iran.
To Israel, the deal is strategic setback undermining core goals Lebanon pulled into U.S.-Iran framework, limiting its own track.
Gulf states alarmed by shifting regional order.
Reporting Highlights...
Climate Rollbacks: Trump's EPA is planning to weaken restrictions on oil and gas wells that produce very little energy but release vast amounts of methane.
A Wealthy Beneficiary: Oil billionaire Jeffery Hildebrand, a major Trump donor, is set to reap the benefits. Society as a whole will deal with the environmental costs.
The Influence Campaign: A former Hildebrand lobbyist now rewriting the EPA's methane rules has solicited input from oil industry groups backed by the billionaire.
President Donald Trump believes he handed Republicans a winning playbook for the midterms -- if only they'd follow it. Gerrymander everywhere possible, get rid of the filibuster, fire the Senate parliamentarian and pass the SAVE America Act.
Experts raise concerns about medical care, supervision in ICE detention centers. ICE death records lack critical information - such as medications and emergency response records. DHS says it is committed to ensuring 'safe, secure and humane environment' for detainees.
Ukraine's e-Points system is pushing soldiers toward higher-value Russian targets. Units earn points for confirmed hits and use them to buy drones, robots, and other gear. The system shows how Ukraine is using incentives, data, and decentralization to fight faster.
@#7 ... This is the same kinda nefarious stuff going on with AI. ...
But it is not just limited to AI.
Facial recognition also enters the picture.
Police tweak 'biased' facial recognition software (March 2026)
www.bbc.com
... A police force has paused the use of live facial recognition (LFR) cameras after a study found it was statistically more likely to identify black people than other ethnic groups.
Essex Police has used the technology since summer 2024, but the study identified "a potential bias in the positive identification rate" of black people over white people on its watchlist.
The force said that following updates to its algorithm and software, it was confident that LFR cameras could be deployed again.
But campaign group Big Brother Watch said the technology was "authoritarian, inaccurate and ineffective in equal measure". ...
Another view ...
For Iran, a new ceasefire means big gains. But Trump's war goals fall short.
www.csmonitor.com
... The ceasefire deal inked by the United States and Iran on Wednesday, aimed at bringing an end to their costly and destructive war, has been touted a strategic victory by the Islamic Republic " while coming up short on achieving U.S. goals articulated by President Donald Trump.[emphasis mine]
The agreement grants Iran sizable economic incentives in exchange for opening the Strait of Hormuz and for Tehran's assurances -- as it has done for many years -- that it will not develop a nuclear weapon.
Mr. Trump touted the 14-point plan to end the war, which he launched jointly with Israel in a surprise attack against Iran on Feb. 28, while a previous round of negotiations was underway.
But the provisions of the new memorandum of understanding, or MoU, fall far short of Mr. Trump's original stated goals of toppling the Islamic Republic: destroying its nuclear program, missile arsenal, and regional network of proxy forces; and forcing Tehran into "unconditional surrender."
Instead, Iran can immediately begin selling oil, with complete sanctions relief, and access a reconstruction fund of "at least" $300 billion after a final deal is reached that would impose strict limits on Iran's nuclear program. ...
Holy Cow': Trump's UFC Spectacle Goes Off the Rails After a Crowd Brawl Breaks Out as the White House Makes an Even Bigger Mess
atlantablackstar.com
... President Donald Trumps birthday bash was supposed to showcase the biggest fights of the evening.
Instead, an unexpected scene in the crowd and a bizarre White House meltdown threatened to steal the spotlight before the festivities were fully underway.
The first sign of trouble came when a confrontation broke out in the crowd, drawing attention away from the main event and creating a scene organizers likely never anticipated.
Witnesses captured two men exchanging punches during the bash. A woman jumped into the chaos, throwing punches as well, before police rushed in, pulled the men apart, and placed both in handcuffs.
This wasn't the fist altercation. ...
Moments earlier, another fight broke out when two women began exchanging blows, forcing nearby spectators to jump in to break it up.
The scuffles became an early distraction at what was supposed to be Trump's made-for-television birthday spectacle.
But the crowd altercations was only the latest problem.
@#7 ... Trump is now saying that the world is simply jealous of his success in Iran. ...
Trump hits back at critics as Iran deal sparks debate over US concessions
saudigazette.com.sa
... US President Donald Trump on Thursday lashed out at criticism over the terms of the interim peace deal he signed with Iran, saying those who think he hasn't been tough enough on Tehran were "either jealous, bad people or stupid."
His comments come shortly after the US president and his Iranian counterpart signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire, including in Lebanon, and reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The interim agreement has prompted many to conclude that the terms appear to have strengthened Tehran's hand and the US media appear unanimous in condemning Trump's concessions to Iran.
The agreement is "widely seen as the biggest foreign-policy bet of the president's second term," according to the Wall Street Journal, who noted Trump "will face resistance from Iran policy hawks who say the president is giving up far more than he is getting. ...
@#32 ... Someone had to find out what would happen. ...
Or maybe ... prior Presidents were informed of the outcome, and decided the cost was not worth the results, if those results could even be accomplished.