US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has claimed that President Donald Trump has lost control of the ongoing war against Iran and is now deeply anxious. Murphy, a key member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the joint US-Israel military operation has entered its fourth week, drawing increasing criticism from lawmakers.

He alleged that Trump’s war strategy is failing and that the situation is becoming increasingly complex. Earlier, Trump had threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants if the Iranian government did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Murphy had previously described the campaign as “Trump’s mad war,” warning that the sharp rise in fuel prices was beginning to affect the entire US economy.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights growing political tension in Washington as the conflict continues without clear resolution or congressional consensus.

U.S. Democratic lawmaker Yasamin Ansari from Arizona sharply criticized President Donald Trump for his recent threats against Iran. Ansari accused the White House of being led by a 'mad dictator' determined to push the country and the world toward destruction. Her comments came after Trump warned that Iran’s power plants would be destroyed if the country failed to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

In a statement, Ansari described Trump’s stance as extremely dangerous, citing his shift from promising help to Iranian protesters to threatening war crimes against an entire population. The lawmaker, whose parents immigrated from Iran, has previously condemned Trump’s military actions toward Iran as reckless and illegal, warning that such decisions could lead to severe consequences, including the loss of American soldiers’ lives.

The exchange underscores ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and critics within the U.S. over its handling of Iran policy and military threats in the region.

Three weeks after the US-Israel war against Iran began, the conflict has entered an uncertain phase marked by contradictory statements from President Donald Trump. While Trump has claimed the war is nearly over and the situation is calming, US and Israeli airstrikes continue across Iran, and American Marine units are reportedly moving into the region. In a Truth Social post, Trump warned that if Iran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, US forces will begin targeting Iranian power plants, starting with the largest one.

Trump earlier published a list of US military objectives in Iran, including destroying Iran’s defense infrastructure and nuclear program, but notably excluded securing the Strait of Hormuz, saying that responsibility should fall to other oil-dependent nations. Despite his insistence that the US is not reliant on Middle Eastern oil, analysts note that global oil price fluctuations still affect American fuel costs.

Reports indicate the Trump administration is preparing a $200 billion emergency funding request to Congress for the ongoing operation, suggesting a prolonged and costly conflict. Congressional reactions have been cautious, with lawmakers seeking clarity on strategy and financial implications.

US forces carried out another strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, officials confirmed on Friday. The attack, conducted on Thursday, left two people dead and one survivor rescued from the water. According to the US Southern Command (Southcom), the targeted vessel was traveling along a known drug-trafficking route. The rescued individuals were later handed over to Costa Rica’s Coast Guard.

Southcom did not initially disclose casualty figures but said the US Coast Guard was assisting in locating three people in distress. The latest incident brings the reported death toll from similar US operations since early September to around 160. The Trump administration has described these missions as part of its campaign against so-called “narco-terrorists” in Latin America.

However, international law experts and human rights groups have questioned the legality of the strikes, arguing they may constitute extrajudicial killings targeting civilians who pose no immediate threat to the United States. The operations have intensified debate over Washington’s military actions in the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

Perplexity has launched Perplexity Health, a new platform that connects users’ electronic health records and wearable data to deliver personalized health answers. The service integrates with Apple Health, Fitbit, Ultrahuman, Withings, and over 1.7 million care providers through partners such as b.well and Terra API. It enables users to ask health-related questions that draw from their lab results, prescriptions, and activity data, all within a single interface. The rollout begins for Pro and Max users in the United States, with additional regions to follow.

Perplexity Health operates within Perplexity Computer, an AI system that coordinates multiple agents to analyze and generate insights. Users can create customized training plans, nutrition programs, or visit-prep summaries for medical appointments. The platform sources information from peer-reviewed journals and clinical guidelines, providing citations for transparency and guidance on when to seek medical care.

The company emphasizes data security through encryption, strict access controls, and user-managed data deletion. Health data is not used to train AI models or sold to third parties. A newly formed Perplexity Health Advisory Board of clinicians and researchers will oversee product quality and clinical standards.

Blue Origin, the aerospace company backed by Jeff Bezos, has filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to establish data centers in space under a project called Project Sunrise. The plan involves deploying up to 51,600 satellites in sun-synchronous orbit that will use optical links to communicate through Blue Origin’s planned satellite network, TeraWave. The company says these solar-powered satellites will create a new computing tier independent of Earth-based infrastructure.

According to Blue Origin’s filing, space-based data centers could reduce costs by eliminating land, grid, and power constraints while taking advantage of continuous solar energy. The proposal mirrors a similar plan by SpaceX, which earlier this year sought approval to launch one million orbital data center satellites connected to its Starlink network. Both companies argue that space computing could be cheaper and less restricted by terrestrial regulations.

The concept has drawn skepticism from industry observers. Figures such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and analysts at Gartner have criticized the idea as impractical and overly ambitious, citing cost and technical challenges of operating data centers in orbit.

Codex has announced a new initiative providing verified university students in the United States and Canada with $100 in credits for use within Codex. The program aims to support students who are using Codex to develop software projects such as course registration tools, community platforms, and interactive study systems. Eligible students can claim the offer by verifying their enrollment status through SheerID, after which the credits will be automatically added to their ChatGPT accounts.

The offer is limited to one per student and applies only to those currently enrolled at degree-granting universities and residing in the United States or Canada. Credits are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance and will be applied to the student’s personal workspace within ChatGPT. Codex clarified that these are not API credits but ChatGPT credits that extend Codex usage beyond standard plan limits.

The initiative underscores Codex’s focus on empowering the next generation of software builders by lowering barriers to experimentation and innovation among university students.

Independent voters in the United States are expressing growing concern over President Donald Trump’s conflict with Iran, a development that could influence the outcome of the upcoming November midterm elections. In Pennsylvania’s swing areas such as Levittown, residents voiced frustration and confusion about the new Middle East conflict, with some shifting support toward Democrats. Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in Congress, and even small voter swings could threaten their control.

Surveys cited in the report show that about 60 percent of independent voters oppose US military action against Iran, while 71 percent believe the Trump administration has failed to clearly explain its reasons for intervention. Analysts warn that this uncertainty could harm Republican prospects. Rising living costs and fuel prices linked to the conflict are also emerging as major campaign issues.

Some voters, however, continue to back Trump, citing the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Others argue that the war must end to avoid another prolonged conflict like Iraq or Vietnam.

An unusual heatwave struck the western United States on Friday, alarming climate scientists who described it as a once-in-500-years event. According to reports from Los Angeles, temperatures broke previous records throughout the week and were expected to remain high through the weekend. The heatwave, initially centered in the western cities, was moving eastward across the country.

In desert areas near the California-Arizona border, four locations recorded 44.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, setting a new national record for March. Weather.com reported that 65 cities, from Arizona and California to Idaho, experienced new March temperature highs. Death Valley reached 40 degrees Celsius, while typically cool San Francisco hit 29 degrees. The U.S. National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for large parts of the Southwest, including Los Angeles, southern California’s coastal areas, and Las Vegas.

The World Weather Attribution group stated that such an event would have been nearly impossible without human-induced climate change, emphasizing its extreme rarity even in a warming climate.

A US federal court has declared the Pentagon’s press-related restrictions unconstitutional, ruling that the policy violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution. District Judge Paul Friedman of Washington, D.C., ordered parts of the Pentagon’s policy to be struck down and directed the reinstatement of press passes for seven New York Times journalists who had returned their credentials last October after refusing to sign the new policy.

In his ruling, Judge Friedman stated that the Pentagon’s policy favored journalists willing to publish only “favorable or pre-approved information,” granting the government excessive power and interfering with press freedom. The court also found that the policy violated journalists’ Fifth Amendment rights by failing to clearly define how they could avoid losing their credentials.

The decision is viewed as a setback for the former Trump administration, which had reportedly increased pressure on the media. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the department disagreed with the ruling and would appeal. The court emphasized that while national security is vital, protecting the public’s right to know about government actions is essential to democracy.

CBS News has reported that US military officials are preparing detailed plans for a possible deployment of ground troops in Iran. Multiple sources cited by the report said high-level discussions are underway regarding the potential move. Senior Pentagon officials have reportedly issued specific instructions to develop such plans, including how to handle the detention of Iranian soldiers if US troops are deployed.

The report comes shortly after President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the United States was considering gradually reducing its military operations in Iran. However, he clarified that he was not seeking a ceasefire. Trump also told reporters that he had no current plans to send ground troops anywhere, adding that if he did, he would not disclose it publicly.

The US Department of Defense did not respond to requests for comment, and the United States Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, declined to speculate on any potential troop deployment.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized NATO and several allied nations, accusing them of failing to provide adequate support during an ongoing war. Speaking outside the White House, Trump said the United Kingdom was slow to grant U.S. forces access to its military bases. He also alleged that Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea were not contributing enough, particularly in sending naval forces to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

According to the report, Trump aims to build a large-scale military operation while U.S. forces remain engaged elsewhere. However, he did not inform allied nations in advance about the U.S. decision to join the war alongside Israel, which created surprise and limited cooperation. In response, Trump has publicly criticized and pressured allies to increase their involvement.

The report notes that the United Kingdom eventually allowed U.S. forces to use its bases, but this did not satisfy Trump. Overall, relations between the U.S. and its allies appear strained amid the ongoing conflict.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington may scale back its military operations in Iran, citing that the United States is close to achieving its objectives. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump said the administration is considering reducing military activities. His statement is being viewed as the strongest signal yet that the conflict, which began on February 28, could soon come to an end.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that both the President and the Pentagon had earlier suggested the mission could take four to six weeks to complete. Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department has eased some restrictions on Iranian oil, allowing shipments loaded before March 20 to be sold until April 19 amid global concerns over rising oil prices and supply shortages.

In response to recent escalations, Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei vowed harsh retaliation against enemies, leading to drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and Israel. Israeli forces reportedly launched counterstrikes on targets in Tehran early Saturday.

The United States has decided to ease sanctions on Iran’s crude oil and petroleum products for 30 days, according to a statement from the US Treasury Department. The move comes in response to global oil price and supply instability caused by the ongoing Iran-Israel war, Al Jazeera reported. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified that the temporary authorization applies only to oil shipments already in transit, not to new orders.

Iran, meanwhile, stated that it has been targeting ships linked to the United States and Israel, disrupting oil and gas transport through the Strait of Hormuz. This disruption has contributed to volatility in global energy prices and raised concerns about broader economic impacts. Earlier, Bessent had told Fox Business that the relaxation could allow about 140 million barrels of Iranian oil currently at sea to reach the market.

Following Bessent’s remarks, Iran’s Oil Ministry spokesperson Saman Goddosi said the country has no additional crude oil available for export, either at sea or in storage, suggesting the US statement was intended to encourage potential buyers.

US President Donald Trump has expressed anger toward NATO allies, hinting at possible diplomatic retaliation. According to Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett reporting from Washington, Trump’s recent Truth Social post revealed his frustration over a lack of cooperation from allied nations regarding the Hormuz Strait issue. He accused several countries of failing to take action or show sufficient interest in addressing the situation.

Analysts cited in the report said Trump’s remarks reflect not only disappointment but also a sign of rising tension. In his comments, Trump downplayed NATO’s importance, labeled allied nations as “cowardly,” and warned that the United States would remember their inaction. The tone of his statement suggests that future diplomatic measures against these allies could be under consideration.

The report indicates that Trump’s stance may further strain relations within the NATO alliance, particularly concerning joint responses to international security challenges.