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Today’s top news
Iran has elected 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leaderAccording to Iranian state television. He is the son of the country’s former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike at the start of the US and Israel’s war with Iran. Yesterday, the American military confirmed the death of a seventh service member in combat. As the conflict enters its second week, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have vowed to continue hitting Iran hard.
Mojtaba Khamenei (center), pictured here in 2019, is the son of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was elected as the next Supreme Leader of the country.
Rouzbe Fouladi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty
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Rouzbe Fouladi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty
- 🎧 A senior Israeli defense official told NPR’s Daniel Estrin this weekend that Israel aims to dismantle Iran’s military forces within three weeks. Ann First upEstrin says the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the plan to target Iran’s army, navy and military industries meant the regime had no combat power. However, Israel acknowledges that Trump could end the war at any time, although the US has not provided a timeline for war. Over the weekend, Israel targeted Iran’s oil facilities, which US officials were not happy about. A person briefed on the matter expressed dismay at the extent of the damage US officials have done to Estrin.
- 🎧 Ethnic Kurds live on both sides of Iran’s western border. On the one hand, they are part of Iran. On the other hand, they control the territory of Iraq. The US has suggested encouraging Iran-armed opposition groups on the Iraqi side to attack Iran. Trump has indicated support for the plan, but has since withdrawn support. NPR’s Jane Araf sat down with Qubad Talabani, the deputy prime minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, yesterday. He emphasized that the Kurds want to rule their region, build their economy and live peacefully. Talabani says the Kurds have no intention of participating in the conflict, despite being a strong US ally.
- 🎧 The war has created a major bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is raising concerns about a potential global energy crisis and shortages of essential commodities in the Persian Gulf region. NPR’s Jackie Northam says about 120 container ships filled with valuable goods such as food, fertilizer and aluminum are at a standstill. Shipping companies are not accepting new bookings. Analysts Northam said the conflict is disrupting the typically efficient shipping industry, causing delays that will pressure ports and hurt markets.
- ➡️ The price of Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, has crossed $100 When the energy markets opened yesterday. Crude was last in triple digits in 2022 after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The increase was driven by fears over an unclear plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump threatened yesterday to withhold his signature on all bills until then Congress passes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The proposed law would change voter registration and voting in the US, requiring eligible voters to prove their citizenship with documents such as a valid US passport or birth certificate and a valid photo ID. It is already illegal for non-US citizens to vote in federal elections.
A senior member of OpenAI’s robotics team has resigned over concerns The company recently announced a partnership with the US Department of Defense. Caitlin Kalinowski posted on social media that she stepped down “on principle” after the company decided to integrate its AI system into secure Defense Department computing. The OpenAI deal with the Pentagon reflects the US government’s push to use advanced AI tools in national security, sparking debates in the tech industry about oversight and acceptable practices.
Living well
Sauna enthusiast Michael Calcagno, second from right, sits in a clear-walled wooden sauna during the Seattle Sauna Festival in November. Sauna use has emerged as a health practice and scientists are studying its benefits.
Mike Cain for NPR
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Mike Cain for NPR
Living Better a Special series About what it takes to be healthy in America.
The age-old practice of saunas has caught the attention of the wellness zeitgeist, gaining a new generation of followers eager to reap its benefits. Researchers say saunas challenge the body just like exercise. A sudden increase in heat puts your cardiovascular system to the test by dilating your blood vessels, increasing your heart rate, pushing your blood to your skin, where it can be cooled more easily by sweat.
- Studies have shown that saunas can help improve blood pressure, cholesterol, arterial stiffness and other markers of cardiometabolic health.
- ➡️ Sauna use reduces the risk of respiratory diseases and neurodegenerative conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s. Several mechanisms explaining the reduced risk of chronic disease include effects on systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.
- ➡️ The biggest attraction to saunas is how they make enthusiasts feel by providing a mental health boost. So far, the data suggests a linear relationship: People experience less depression up to a certain point in the following days and weeks after using saunas.
Film show
Rev. Kamala Harris, former Vice President, spoke at Jackson’s public homegoing service at Chicago’s House of Hope on Friday. Holding a campaign button from Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential run.
Ken Cook Jr. for NPR
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Ken Cook Jr. for NPR
Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died last month at the age of 84, was laid to rest at Chicago’s Oak Woods Cemetery over the weekend. A week of services for the civil rights leader included a lie-in at Rainbow Push headquarters, a lie-in-state at the South Carolina state capitol and a Friday homegoing service at the House of Hope megachurch. Thousands attended the service, including former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Take a look at the inside photos from these events.
3 things to know before you go
Singer Joe McDonald sings during a concert marking the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival on August 15, 2009 in Bethel, New York. McDonald died at the age of 84.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
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Mario Tama/Getty Images
- Country Joe McDonald, whose Vietnam War protest song became a signature song of the 1960s counterculture, died Saturday at age 84.
- British Columbia is making Daylight Savings Time permanent after changing clocks over the weekend. The change is popular among residents of the Canadian province, but health experts say it increases health risks.
- Netflix is acquiring Ben Affleck’s AI-powered filmmaking tool company Interpositive. Affleck says his technology helps filmmakers build proprietary AI models based on scenes they’ve already shot.
Edited this newsletter Suzanne Nguyen.
