Military Buildup, Kraft Axes Dyes, & Mighty Robots

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Adam Rogers
June 18, 2025

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The US is rushing military assets to the Middle East as Trump considers Iran strikes.

The Pentagon is deploying the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and additional F-16, F-22, and F-35 fighter jets to the Middle East while positioning over 30 aircraft refueling tankers in Europe to extend the range of fighter operations. The deployments bring the total number of US aircraft carriers in the region to two.
Trump held an urgent 90-minute meeting in the White House Situation Room with his national security team on Tuesday, followed by a call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Three US officials told Axios that Trump is seriously considering launching strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, particularly the underground uranium enrichment plant at Fordow.
Trump escalated his rhetoric Tuesday, demanding Iran's "unconditional surrender" and warning that US patience was "wearing thin." He posted on social media that "we know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding" but said the US would not "take him out (kill!), at least not for now."

The Louvre Museum closed this week due to a staff strike over overwhelming crowds and crumbling infrastructure.

The world's most-visited museum shut down Monday when workers spontaneously walked off their jobs during a routine meeting, leaving thousands of tourists waiting outside the glass pyramid entrance. Gallery attendants, security, and ticket agents refused to return to their posts, protesting what they called "untenable" working conditions.
The Louvre welcomes 8.7 million visitors annually - double what its infrastructure was designed to handle. Twenty thousand people cram into one room daily just to photograph the Mona Lisa, while staff describe working conditions as a 'physical ordeal' with inadequate restrooms and limited rest areas. The aging building compounds the problem with leaks and temperature swings that endanger priceless artwork.
President Macron has promised a $730-800 million renovation by 2031, including a dedicated Mona Lisa room, but workers say they need help now, not in six years. State operating subsidies have shrunk 20% over the past decade, even as visitor numbers soared, leaving the museum caught between massive crowds and inadequate resources.

Tom Cruise will receive an honorary Oscar 35 years after his first nomination.

The Academy announced Tuesday that Cruise will finally receive recognition at the Governors Awards, along with choreographer Debbie Allen, production designer Wynn Thomas. Dolly Parton will get the humanitarian award for her literacy and education work.
Cruise, 62, has been nominated four times without winning - twice for best actor, once for supporting actor, and once as producer for best picture nominee "Top Gun: Maverick." The Academy cited his commitment to theatrical moviegoing and the stunt community, particularly his work keeping big-budget films in theaters during the pandemic when many studios shifted to streaming.
Allen has choreographed seven Oscar ceremonies, while Thomas designed films including the best picture winner "A Beautiful Mind" and multiple Spike Lee collaborations. The honorary Oscars will be presented at an untelevised ceremony on November 16 in Los Angeles.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was transported to a Washington, D.C. hospital by ambulance Tuesday for an allergic reaction but is alert and recovering, a spokesperson said. (More)

A Colorado federal jury found MyPillow founder and election conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell defamed former Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer, ordering him to pay $2.3 million in damages Monday. (More)

NYC Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was detained by federal agents on Tuesday while asking to see a warrant for a man taken from immigration court. (More)

At least 51 Palestinians were killed and 200+ wounded while waiting for aid trucks in Khan Younis, Gaza, after Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd, Palestinian health officials said. (More) | One of Russia's largest attacks in months killed at least 15 people, mostly in Kyiv, and injured nearly 100. (More)

China is growing its nuclear stockpile faster than any country, reaching at least 600 warheads with about 100 added yearly since 2023, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported Monday. (More)

Brazilian federal police formally accused former president Jair Bolsonaro of running an illegal spying network targeting political rivals, journalists, and environmentalists during his administration, adding to existing coup plot charges. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -0.84%, Nasdaq -0.91%, Dow -0.70%). New retail sales data showing lower-than-expected consumer spending in May weighed stocks down. (More)

Kraft Heinz announced Tuesday it will remove FDA-approved artificial food dyes from all products within two years, affecting 10% of its current brands, including Crystal Light, Jell-O, and Kool-Aid. (More)

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told employees the company's corporate workforce will shrink as it adopts more AI tools. The company has laid off over 27,000 people since 2022. (More)

The Florida Panthers won their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 on Tuesday. A Canadian team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since 1993. (More)

Food Network star Anne Burrell, longtime host of "Worst Cooks in America" known for her platinum blonde hair and vibrant personality, died Tuesday at age 55 at her Brooklyn home. (More)

Singer R. Kelly was hospitalized after his lawyer claimed prison officials gave him an overdose of his medications in an alleged assassination attempt, according to court documents filed Tuesday. (More)

A 10th-century Viking burial site with 30 graves and ancient objects was accidentally discovered during construction near Aarhus, Denmark. It is believed to belong to a noble family. (More)

NYU researchers found that bariatric surgeries achieved five times more weight loss than GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide, with patients losing an average of 58 pounds versus just 12 pounds after two years. (More)

A Georgia woman declared brain dead and on life support since February had her baby delivered Friday via emergency cesarean. The baby, named Chance, weighs 1 pound 13 ounces and is expected to live. (More)

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