Covering global conflict is my job as The Daily Wire’s foreign affairs correspondent. But from Friday at sundown until Saturday night — roughly 25 hours each week — I step away completely. I’m an Orthodox Jew, and each week on Shabbat, I don’t use any electricity, including my phone. At sundown tonight, I logged on to find a very different reality in the Middle East than I left. If you’ve been following The Daily Wire’s coverage all day, you know that, early this morning, the United States and Israel struck Iran. But if you need a refresher, here are the 7 updates that got me up to speed. 1. Operation Epic Fury Hits Hard Precision munitions rained down from land, air, and sea in the opening hours, hitting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command-and-control centers, Iranian air defenses, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields. According to U.S. Central Command, the strikes began at 1:15 a.m. ET, and CENTCOM called Operation Epic Fury the largest regional concentration of American military firepower in a generation.   2. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei Is Dead Precision U.S. and Israeli strikes hit the Supreme Leader’s compound in the opening hours of the operation, killing Iran’s top ruler. He was 86, had led the country since 1989, and was only the second person to hold the post of supreme leader since the 1979 Iranian Revolution that brought a radical clerical regime to power. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former President Donald Trump were shown images of Khamenei’s body after it was recovered. President Trump called Khamenei “one of the most evil people in history” and said his death delivered justice for the people of Iran, for all great Americans, and for those around the world who suffered under him and his “gang of bloodthirsty thugs.” Khamenei had ruled tyrannically for decades, overseeing widespread oppression, including the violent crackdown on protesters that left an estimated 32,000 dead in January. Trump added that the Supreme Leader could not evade the strike — despite any efforts to hide, highly sophisticated tracking systems, coordinated between the U.S. and Israel, made it impossible for him to escape.   3. Iranians Encouraged To Take Fate Into Their Own Hands After Khamenei was killed, President Trump called this “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country,” a moment that some Iranians appear to be marking with hope. Videos circulating on social media show cheers across Iran Saturday night following reports of the Supreme Leader’s death, including in Tehran, and videos emerging from London show members of the Iranian diaspora joining in the celebrations. Trump added that many members of the IRGC, military, and other security forces reportedly no longer want to fight and are seeking immunity. He expressed hope that the IRGC and police could peacefully merge with Iranian patriots, working together to restore the country to what he described as its deserved greatness.   4. Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes Across the Middle East In retaliation following Khamenei’s death, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks across the region: Israel: Multiple missile impacts, including in Tel Aviv. Qatar: Missiles targeted Al Udeid Air Base. United Arab Emirates (UAE): Al Dhafra Air Base struck; one person killed in Abu Dhabi. Bahrain: U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters and residential buildings targeted. Kuwait: Kuwait International Airport and Ali Al Salem Air Base were attacked. All missiles were intercepted, though a drone hit Kuwait International Airport, causing minor injuries to employees. Jordan: Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base targeted. Iraq: U.S. Consulate in Erbil and Erbil Airport targeted by drones, which were shot down. Saudi Arabia: Riyadh was targeted, but attacks were repelled. Oman: Spared from attacks; the country had mediated nuclear negotiations as recently as Thursday. 5. The U.S. and Israel Are Operating in Full Coordination The strikes on Iran were part of a coordinated military campaign between the United States and Israel. Strategic analysts at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) note that the United States designated its part of the operation “Operation Epic Fury,” while Israel called its portion “Operation Lion’s Roar,” reflecting a division of labor that plays to each side’s strengths: Israel focusing on regime leadership and intelligence targets, and the United States using its superior firepower to strike missile silos and major military sites. The level of coordination was clear in advance. In the days leading up to the strikes, American refueling tankers were stationed at Ben Gurion Airport, while combat fighter jets were on the runway in Israel for offensive operations for the first time.   6. Top Iranian Officials Reportedly Killed In addition to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Israel claims several high-ranking Iranian figures were killed in the strikes, including: Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran’s defense minister Ali Shamkhani, head of the Iranian Security Council Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Saleh Asadi, intelligence official Hossein Jabal Amelian and Reza Mozaffari-Nia, research officials Mohammed Shirazi, longtime defense liaison   7. Trump Says Bombing Will Continue President Trump warned that the air campaign in Iran isn’t ending anytime soon, saying heavy and precise strikes will keep going “throughout the week or as long as necessary” to achieve what he described as peace across the Middle East and beyond. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed that stance, saying the United States will not tolerate missiles aimed at Americans and vowing that the Iranian navy “will be destroyed.”

Candace Cameron Bure loves dressing up and has become a style icon. Candace chooses beautiful pieces that flatter her figure but aren’t too revealing. She works with fabulous stylists who know just how to make Candace shine. She recently shared behind-the-scenes footage of herself getting ready for the Move Guide Awards. Candace Cameron Bure wore a stunning dress in a gorgeous shade of pink that will make you swoon. “Getting dolled up for the @movieguide awards with my Timeless Tidings of Joy director, @thepaulaelle… in ONE WEEK!! Here’s your reminder to set your reminder for Thursday, March 5th at 8pm ET on @greatamericanfamily and @greatamericanpureflix,” she shared. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Candace Cameron Bure (@candacecbure) Candace Cameron Bure Looked Stunning in Her Dress Candace Cameron Bure’s strapless sequin floor-length dress is a true stunner. She paired her gown with matching jewelry and a natural glam makeup look. Fans agreed that Candace stole the show. “Still not over how GORGEOUS you both looked!!!’’ A comment reads. “Oh my gosh the team work for Paula. So sweet! Love these photos. You’re both stars,” a fan agreed. People loved how Candace Cameron Bure’s dress and jewelry all coordinated so beautifully. “Love the pink gemstone ring! So pretty – and a perfect match for your dress!” Someone shared. Others like to see that Candace was headed to such a special event with a cause they feel close to. “Can’t wait to watch! It’s nice to see an award show with elegant dressed people and where they say the name Jesus!!!” Another person shared. Great American Family shared the excitement for Candace, the dress, the jewels, and the night. “Stunning!  We can’t wait for everyone to tune in!” The network shared. This story’s featured image is by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images.

'very soon be consigned to the dustbin of history'

'This is the first morning in my life that I get the good news'

As NewsBusters was first to report last November, Navy veteran Zachary Young filed an appeal for his $453 million defamation suit against the Associated Press. Three months later and both sides have submitted their arguments to Florida’s First District Court of Appeals as they await a date for their oral arguments. In the initial appeal Young stuck to his allegations that the AP defamed him by using the term “smuggle” to describe his operations to rescue people from Afghanistan during the collapse; continuing to point out that AP Style Guide gives a negative definition to the word: AP’s statement that “Young’s business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan” expressly accused Appellants of the crime of human smuggling and is classic defamation per se. AP further defamed Young by implication by creating the false impression that regardless of who funded Young’s rescue operations, Young was engaged in human smuggling. To the extent AP argued a different interpretation, defamatory meaning became an issue of fact for the jury. He also accused the court of “erroneously granting” the motion and denying Young an opportunity for punitive damages, and taking direct aim at Judge Willaim Henry’s language: The court wove a theme throughout the order that this case was a bad “sequel” to the CNN case that “should not have been made,” a “money grab,” and the “smuggling people” charge as innocuous as sneaking “candy” “into a movie theater.” The court’s irreverence and lack of judicial decorum reveal bias. Language like that was why Young was requesting a new judge to be assigned to the on remand. In the AP’s Answer Brief (filed on January 29, 2026), their lead attorney Charles Tobin, one of the same lawyers who represented CNN in Young’s defamation case against them, defended the use of “smuggle” to the court using Young’s testimony from the CNN trial: In so holding, the court highlighted Young’s trial testimony in which, in describing “how evacuation services were performed in Afghanistan,” he emphasized that getting people out of the country required covert activity and furtive measures to avoid detection by the Taliban. The court explained that, “[t]o the average reader,” Young’s descriptions of what getting Afghans out of the country entailed could be fairly “summarized with the eight-word phrase, ‘Young’s business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan,’” especially “when put in the context of the proceeding sentences” from the Article “that describe[d] how Young helped endangered and desperate Afghans escape the Taliban.” The AP’s filing tried to play games with their Stylebook’s negative definition of “smuggle”: …the AP Stylebook Young references is not evidence that The AP intended “smuggle” in this context to convey criminal wrongdoing. The Stylebook does not address the definition of the single word “smuggling” in isolation. Instead, the terms referenced in the Stylebook are “human smuggling” and “people smuggling,” which The AP did not use. Likewise, that The AP has, in other articles, used “smuggle” or “smuggling” with specific reference to criminal offenses is not evidence it meant to do so here. In fact, those other articles prove The AP’s overarching point: they conveyed criminality not solely because they used the word “smuggle” or “smuggling,” but because the broader context of the article made plain that the articles were specifically about the crime of smuggling. As would be expected, the AP touted Judge Henry’s depiction of the case when he threw it out: “The court then explained that, this time, Young’s claims were without legal basis, likening Young’s second lawsuit to one of those ‘sequels, spinoffs, or reboots’ that ‘should not be made.’ The court laid out the basis for that conclusion in detail in its lengthy, well-reasoned, order.” In Young’s Reply Brief (filed February 26, 2026), his appellate counsel Lisa Paige Glass, Esq. countered the AP’s word games with an English lesson: In a failed attempt to distance itself from its own word choice, AP disingenuously claims the Article’s “smuggle people” accusation is not encompassed within the auspices of its Stylebook’s definition of “people/human smuggling.” Clearly, “smuggle people” (the verb) is the act of “people smuggling” (the noun). It means exactly what its Stylebook states: “transporting people across an international border illegally, and with their consent, in exchange for a fee.” And it was used exactly as its Stylebook provides: “Young’s business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan,” i.e., Young’s business helped transport people across Afghanistan’s border illegally, and with their consent, in exchange for a fee. That definition is not theoretical. The articles in Appellants’ proffer show AP consistently uses “people/human smuggling” to describe illegal cross-border movement prosecuted under federal and international law. AP does not use that terminology to describe lawful humanitarian evacuation. When AP reports a business “helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan,” it employs the same terminology it uses in covering indictments and criminal networks. AP’s own usage confirms a criminal interpretation is reasonable and evidences malice. Regarding the request for a new judge on remand, the filing also argued that Young “only learned of the bias once the court entered the final order that is now on appeal.” Adding: AP argues Appellants have not demonstrated a reason to disqualify Judge Henry because he ruled in Appellants’ favor in the CNN case. One has nothing to do with the other. As Judge Henry himself said, after presiding over Appellants’ successful case against CNN, he was put off by this second lawsuit. His characterizations of this action as a “money grab” and a “sequel that should not have been made” go beyond legal analysis and reflect prejudgment of motive. In a statement to NewsBusters, Glass said: “The circuit court reduced a false felony accusation to a candy bar analogy. Human smuggling is a federal and international crime. It is not a joke, and it is not a figure of speech. Florida law requires courts to take those words as they are written, and we are confident the First District will restore that basic principle.” Daniel Lustig, Young’s lead counsel, told NewsBusters: “This case is about accountability. When a major news organization tells the world that someone ‘smuggled people,’ it is making a direct criminal accusation. The law does not allow that to be brushed aside or reinterpreted after the fact. We are confident the First District will correct the error and allow a jury to decide the meaning of those words.” As things stand right now, both sides have also filed motions requesting an oral argument before the appellate court. The hearing has yet to be scheduled.

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The Super Nintendo was released more than 35 years ago, yet many gamers and collectors still love the console and are willing to pay a lot to own one today.