Middle East Spirals, Historical Documents Tour, & Cursive Handwriting

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Adam Rogers
March 03, 2026

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Just days after US and Israeli strikes on Iran began, the conflict has rapidly expanded across the Middle East, drawing in multiple countries, disrupting energy markets, and raising fears of wider escalation. Fighting now directly involves at least 11 nations, with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, Gulf states, and US military positions as Iran retaliates against the campaign.
Iran launched strikes across the region, while Iran-backed militias attacked US bases in Iraq and Hezbollah opened a new front from Lebanon. Israel responded with extensive airstrikes, and Lebanon’s government moved to ban Hezbollah military activity. The conflict also reached Europe after drones struck a British air base in Cyprus, prompting security deployments by European allies.
The fight is also threatening a critical global shipping chokepoint. Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz — which carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil — closed and warned vessels attempting to pass would be set on fire.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to expand France's nuclear arsenal and allow the temporary deployment of nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries. France, the European Union's only nuclear power since Brexit, will also invite partners to participate in deterrence exercises while keeping sole authority over any decision to use nuclear weapons.
The strategy comes as European leaders reassess security arrangements amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and uncertainty about long-term US defense commitments. Macron said discussions on deeper nuclear cooperation have begun with several European allies, including Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands, emphasizing that the effort would complement — not replace — NATO’s existing deterrence framework.
Macron also confirmed France will increase its number of nuclear warheads for the first time in decades, though no figure was disclosed. He argued the move is necessary to maintain credible deterrence as global threats evolve and European nations take greater responsibility for their own defense.

Some of America's most significant historical documents are leaving the National Archives for the first time Monday, traveling aboard a Boeing 737 "Freedom Plane" to eight cities across the country as part of the nation's 250th anniversary commemoration. The documents have never traveled collectively before.
The collection includes a rare 1823 engraving of the Declaration of Independence, the 1783 Treaty of Paris that formally ended the Revolutionary War, and Oaths of Allegiance signed by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and other Continental Army officers. All displays will be free to the public.
The plane departs Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Monday, with its first stop at the National WWI Museum in Kansas City, where local schools have already booked visits for more than 5,000 schoolchildren. Additional stops include Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, Miami, Dearborn, and Seattle. The tour was inspired by the American Freedom Train that toured 48 states during the 1976 bicentennial.

The House Oversight Committee released interview videos of Bill and Hillary Clinton from its Jeffrey Epstein probe, showing hours of testimony and exchanges with Republican lawmakers, with portions redacted. (More)

Texas and North Carolina House primaries began Tuesday, the first elections using newly redrawn mid-decade congressional maps. (More)

A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s request to delay tariff refunds after the Supreme Court ruled the levies illegal, potentially forcing up to $175 billion in repayments to importers. (More)

Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum authenticated a lost 1633 Rembrandt using advanced scans and analysis. The rediscovered biblical painting, unseen for 65 years, will go on public display after confirmation of authenticity. (More)

An attack by unidentified fighters in South Sudan’s Ruweng region killed at least 169 people, including civilians and soldiers. (More)

Thousands of flights were canceled as the US–Israel war with Iran shut major Middle East hubs, stranded passengers, and triggered the aviation industry’s worst disruption since the pandemic. (More)

US stock markets closed mixed Monday (S&P +0.04%, Nasdaq +0.36%, Dow -0.15%), rebounding from declines as investors bought the dip following strikes on Iran. (More)

US mortgage rates rose to 6.12% after briefly dipping below 6%, as higher Treasury yields — driven by oil price spikes and Iran-related inflation concerns — reversed momentum entering the spring housing market. (More)

If the Skydance & Warner Bros. Discovery merger goes through, Paramount+ and Max will become one streaming platform with 200 million subscribers. (More)

Hilary Knight revealed she played through a torn MCL while helping Team USA win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, scoring a crucial equalizer and setting new U.S. Olympic scoring records. (More)

Megan Moroney’s Cloud 9 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 147,000 units, marking her first chart-topper and the biggest weekly debut for a female country album in nearly two years. (More)

Duke held No. 1 in the AP men’s basketball poll for a second week, clinching the ACC tournament’s top seed with a 27–2 record. Arizona and Michigan round out the top three. (More)

GLP-1s may slightly raise the risk of osteoporosis and gout, a new study found, though doctors say exercise can largely offset the bone density loss. (More)

Hacktivists called 'Department of Peace' leaked DHS documents exposing contracts with 6,000 companies — including Microsoft, Palantir, and Raytheon. (More)

South African astronomers found the farthest natural 'space laser' ever detected — a galaxy collision 8 billion light-years away so powerful it earned a new classification: gigamaser. (More)

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