Israel & Iran Exchange Fire, US Judge Reins in Trump, Air India 787 Crash, SpaceX Future in Question After Trump Feud, Riots in N. Ireland, NYC Mayor Race Heats Up

The world stands on a knife’s edge after Israel launched a major military offensive against Iran early Friday, striking what it described as dozens of nuclear and military targets. Explosions were reported in the Iranian capital, Tehran, as Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of a retaliatory missile and drone attack. Israeli officials claimed the preemptive strike was necessary to counter an imminent threat, stating Iran had enough material to produce 15 nuclear bombs within days. The White House confirmed the Israeli operation and stated the U.S. was not involved. The attack, which scuttled planned nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran, sent shockwaves through global markets, causing crude oil prices to jump over $3 a barrel and stocks to slide.In the United States, a dramatic confrontation unfolded in Los Angeles between federal authorities and a U.S. Senator. Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was shoved to the ground and handcuffed by federal agents after attempting to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference regarding immigration raids. The incident deepened the standoff between California and the Trump administration, which saw a federal judge temporarily bar President Trump from deploying National Guard troops in Los Angeles, returning control to the state’s governor.A catastrophic aviation disaster occurred in India, where an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing over 290 people. The plane crashed into a medical college hostel, with casualties including passengers, crew, and students on the ground. It marks the first fatal crash for the modern Dreamliner aircraft.U.S. domestic politics saw several major developments. The role of Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the “Golden Dome” missile defense system is reportedly in question following a public feud between Musk and President Trump. The House of Representatives also narrowly passed a Trump-backed bill to slash $9.4 billion from foreign aid and public broadcasting.Elsewhere, geopolitical and social tensions flared. In Northern Ireland, anti-immigrant violence spread to a fourth night, with rioters attacking police in the town of Portadown. In Kenya, the arrest of a police constable in connection with the death of a political blogger sparked furious protests in Nairobi. In Cuba, students called for strikes to protest a massive hike in internet prices by the state-owned telecom monopoly. An international investigation has revealed that China-backed militias are securing control of new rare earth mines in Myanmar, giving Beijing leverage in its ongoing trade war with Washington.Other notable stories include a mistrial being declared on a rape charge in Harvey Weinstein’s New York trial; a school shooting in Graz, Austria, that left 10 dead; and a Canadian cancer survivor who has now won the lottery four times.