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Monday, March 2, 2026

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2 hours ago
Media

Paramount Skydance Eyes Merger with HBO Max.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Paramount Skydance announced plans to merge Paramount+ and HBO Max into a single streaming service following its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Netflix (which withdrew from the bidding war).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made during an investor call on Monday, days after Warner signed the acquisition agreement.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We think the combined offering…really will put us in a position to be able to compete with the most scaled players,” said David Ellison.

🎯IMPACT: The merger could reshape the streaming landscape, with the Ellison family also pledging to roll out an aggressive Hollywood cinematic release schedule.

IN FULL

With the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery underway, Paramount Skydance informed shareholders on an investor call on Monday that it plans to merge its current streaming service and digital library called Paramount+ with the Warner Bros. streaming property, HBO Max. “We do plan to put the two services together, which today gives us a little over 200 million direct-to-consumer subscribers,” David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount Skydance, stated.

“We think the combined offering, given the amount of content and what we can do from the tech side, really will put us in a position to be able to compete with the most scaled players” in the direct-to-consumer streaming market, Ellison added. Paramount+ is home to the Star Trek franchise and Yellowstone, while HBO Max owns mega-franchises like Game of Thrones and Batman.

The National Pulse reported last week that Warner Bros. agreed to be acquired by Paramount Skydance in a $77 billion deal after Netflix withdrew its bid. Just prior to Netflix withdrawing its bid, Warner Bros. announced that it had determined Paramount Skydance to have made a superior offer compared to the streaming giant founded by Democrat mega-donor Reed Hastings.

If the acquisition is approved by federal government regulators—a very likely scenario—Paramount Skydance will control Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Entertainment, HBO, and CNN, among other assets. Ellison, who is the son of Silicon Valley titan Larry Ellison, emphasized the merger’s potential to strengthen Hollywood and help Paramount compete in an evolving market. He pledged to release 30 movies in theaters annually and maintain HBO’s creative independence. “HBO should stay HBO,” Ellison stated.

The Netflix-Warner Bros. merger was opposed by America First conservatives such as former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who wrote in The National Pulse in January, “This isn’t a merger to foster competition. The objective is outright control. Netflix already dominates streaming content. WBD already dominates content with a massive library and content creation ability at scale. Put them together and you don’t get ‘synergies.’ You get a vertically integrated behemoth that controls what gets made, what gets promoted, what loads fastest on your screen, and what quietly disappears.”

Image by JasonParis.

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By Popular Demand.
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15 minutes ago
War
World

Saudis Forced to Shut Massive Oil Refinery After Iranian Attack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery shut down temporarily following an Iranian attack, reportedly involving drones.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Iranian armed forces, Saudi Aramco, and President Donald Trump were key figures in the unfolding events.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred over the weekend, with the shutdown confirmed on Monday, in Saudi Arabia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Aramco shut the 550,000 barrel-per-day Ras Tanura plant on Monday as a precaution while assessing damage,” Bloomberg shared.

🎯IMPACT: The attack has raised concerns about potential disruptions in global oil supply.

IN FULL

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia temporarily shut down its Ras Tanura oil refinery on Monday after it was hit by multiple Iranian suicide drones. Images show smoke rising from the facility, though the scope of damage is not immediately clear.

Since joint United States and Israeli airstrikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran began over the weekend, Iranian forces have attempted to target civilian, economic, and energy infrastructure in the Gulf States—along with a number of attacks against U.S. military assets and Israel. The suicide drone strike against Ras Tanura is likely to have a short-term impact on Saudi oil production as the facility is capable of refining an estimated 550,000 barrels of oil per day.

Saudi officials shut down the Ras Tanura as a precaution and to assess damage. Workers were evacuated from the facility.

The attack appears to be part of a broader series of strikes used by the Iranian regime in the aftermath of the death of its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike over the weekend. Iranian missiles have also hit civilian targets, including hotels in Bahrain and the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition, Iran has fired a handful of missiles at oil tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz—while claiming it has closed the key waterway—though United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has indicated that at least 11 Islamic Republic naval vessels have been sunk at sea, with others destroyed in strikes on key Iranian naval installations along its coast.

Over the weekend, after an initial round of Iranian missile strikes, the Gulf States issued a rare joint public statement condemning the Islamic Republic and its attacks.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
Corruption
News

WATCH: House Oversight Committee Releases Clinton Deposition Videos.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. House Oversight Committee released videos of its depositions of former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, as part of their investigation into Clinton associate and deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The depositions were released on March 2, 2026, by the U.S. House Oversight Committee.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn’t do. I saw nothing and I did nothing wrong.” – Bill Clinton

🎯IMPACT: The release of these depositions adds transparency to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s elite connections.

IN FULL

The House Oversight Committee has made public the deposition videos of Jeffrey Epstein associate and former President Bill Clinton, along with his wife, Hillary Clinton. This move is part of the ongoing investigation into Epstein’s activities and connections.

Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced the release, stating, “I have released Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton’s deposition footage.”

Bill Clinton, who had multiple flights on Epstein’s “Lolita Express” plane, defended himself during his deposition, saying, “I know what I did, and more importantly, what I didn’t do. I saw nothing and I did nothing wrong.”

Epstein, along with his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, visited the Clinton White House and supported the Clinton Foundation following the Clinton presidency.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

‘Abdul Jalloh,’ Charged with Bus Stop Murder After Being Let Loose by Soros DA, is an Illegal Immigrant.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Abdul Jalloh, charged in the murder of Stephanie Minter in Fairfax County, Virginia, is now confirmed to be an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Abdul Jalloh, a 32-year-old migrant from Sierra Leone, 41-year-old victim Stephanie Minter, and Democrat state officials, including George Soros-backed prosecutor Steve Descano.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Last Monday night at a bus stop in Fairfax County, Virginia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are calling on Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger and Virginia’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this murderer and violent career criminal from their jail without notifying ICE.” — DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis

🎯IMPACT: Laura Birnbaum, the chief of staff for Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, admitted on Friday that Jalloh was a well-known threat to the public, but the prosecutor’s office never made any serious moves to send him to prison, claiming that they had trouble securing witnesses.

IN FULL

The man now charged with the stabbing murder of Stephanie Minter in Fairfax County, Virginia, is an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone. Abdul Jalloh, 32, has been charged with the brutal murder of 41-year-old Minter, who was found dead at a bus stop in Fairfax County, Virginia, last Monday night.

Jalloh, who illegally entered the United States in 2012, has an extensive criminal history with over 30 arrests. His charges have included rape, malicious wounding, assault, drug possession, identity theft, and more, but charges against him were frequently dropped by the office of George Soros-backed prosecutor Steve Descano. In 2020, a judge issued a final order of removal against Jalloh, but he was not deported due to limitations on returning him to Sierra Leone.

Laura Birnbaum, the chief of staff for Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, admitted on Friday that Jalloh was a well-known threat to the public, but the prosecutor’s office never made any serious moves to send him to prison, claiming that they had trouble securing witnesses.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is pushing Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) to ensure that state law enforcement cooperates with federal immigration authorities, especially regarding Jollah. Spanberger recently signed an executive order ending cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, “We are calling on Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger and Virginia’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this murderer and violent career criminal from their jail without notifying ICE.” She added, “This heinous criminal is a perfect example of why we need cooperation from sanctuary jurisdictions and the importance of third-country removals for the safety of the American people.”

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Corruption

HHS Report Finds MN Child Care Agency is Skipping Fraud Checks, Attendance Verification.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that Minnesota’s child care agency failed to properly verify attendance records or pursue fraud tips, according to a letter following an oversight visit.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: HHS, Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), and state officials, including Governor Tim Walz (D) and Commissioner Tikki Brown.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Oversight visit conducted January 22-23, 2026, with findings outlined in an HHS letter on Monday, March 2, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Minnesota did not demonstrate that they are currently implementing required program integrity training for providers across the state.” – Laurie Todd-Smith, HHS ACF Deputy Assistant Secretary.

🎯IMPACT: Federal funds may be withheld if Minnesota fails to address the outlined issues, with $184.9 million in taxpayer funding at risk.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has revealed that the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) failed to adequately verify attendance records or pursue fraud tips in its Child Care Assistance Program. Findings from an oversight visit conducted on January 22-23, as revealed in a letter published on March 2, contend that the state agency lacked sufficient staff and resources to combat fraud effectively, with only four investigators assigned to address potential violations.

Concerningly, Laurie Todd-Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development at HHS, found that Minnesota’s DCYF “[l]imited staff and resources… to adequately pursue fraud tips and conduct proactive investigations.” Additionally, the Assistant Secretary noted, “Minnesota did not demonstrate that they are currently implementing required program integrity training for providers across the state.” This suggests that Governor Tim Walz (D) and other state officials have taken no proactive steps—despite their public claims—to curb ongoing social services fraud in the state, and have raised concerns about the misuse of federal funds, as child care centers could receive payments without reconciling billed hours against attendance records.

Todd-Smith also stated in the letter that Minnesota lacked a mandatory statewide process for reviewing and acting on county-level single audits. She also highlighted that the state had not conducted necessary “onsite visits” to ensure compliance, a requirement emphasized in previous federal audits. The Trump administration previously flagged concerns about fraud in Minnesota’s child care programs, with President Donald J. Trump alleging that as much as $19 billion in federal funds may have been misappropriated.

Minnesota received $184.9 million in taxpayer funding for youth services in fiscal year 2025. HHS has warned that these funds could be withheld unless the state provides attendance and inspection records within 60 days.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
UK
War

Farage: Iranian Refugees Must Stay in Middle East.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has stated that Britain cannot handle a wave of Iranian refugees, and that they should be accommodated in the Middle East.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nigel Farage, Iranian migrants, and the British public.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Farage made his comments on March 2.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If there are refugees fleeing Iran, they will be housed in the Middle East. We can’t take refugees from these conflicts anymore, we simply can’t,” Farage said.

🎯IMPACT: Farage’s comments come amid fears that the ongoing war in Iran could spark another massive wave of migrants to Europe, similar to previous wars in Syria and Libya. 

IN FULL

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has said that Britain must not accept any new influx of refugees from Iran, arguing that those fleeing potential unrest should be accommodated in the Middle East. Notably, Iran’s immediate neighbors include some of the wealthiest countries in the world, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—although they have all been reluctant to accept Muslim refugees from conflicts in Syria and elsewhere in the past.

Speaking on Monday, Farage said, “If there are refugees fleeing Iran, they will be housed in the Middle East. We can’t take refugees from these conflicts anymore, we simply can’t.”

However, he added that if Iran’s theocratic regime falls, it may cause many Persians currently living in Britain to return home. “I know many people who would like to go back to their home country, but away from the barbarity of this regime,” he said.

Immigration has been central to Farage’s platform as leader of the Reform Party. He has pledged a sweeping crackdown on illegal migration, including a plan to deport hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants over a single parliamentary term if he gains power. Farage has also proposed withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and suspending aspects of the Refugee Convention to stop illegal and criminal migrants from using human rights appeals to prevent them from being returned to their home countries.

Farage believes that anyone entering the country illegally should be permanently barred from claiming asylum, which would stop tens of thousands of migrants traveling to Britain from France on small boats from staying.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Crime
Immigration
UK

Afghan Migrant Jailed for Raping Woman Within Weeks of Arrival.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An Afghan migrant who arrived in the United Kingdom on a small boat in June 2022 was convicted of raping a vulnerable woman in Southampton, England, the following month.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Musafar Hotak, 25, the victim, and the Southampton Crown Court.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The crime occurred in Southampton in July 2022, with the trial concluding almost four years later.

💬KEY QUOTE: “What happened to me destroyed my life in ways I never thought possible. I didn’t just feel violated, I felt erased,” said Hotak’s victim.

🎯IMPACT: Hotak was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with the Home Office considering deportation. The victim continues to face severe psychological trauma.

IN FULL

Musafar Hotak, a 25-year-old migrant from Afghanistan, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of a vulnerable woman in Southampton, England. The attack occurred in July 2022, just one month after Hotak arrived in the United Kingdom on a small boat.

The victim, who had been intoxicated and was asked to leave a local bar, was followed by Hotak. A voicemail recorded on her phone captured her telling him to stop. She later woke up in Hotak’s home, where he assaulted and raped her despite her pleas. DNA evidence confirmed the crime.

During the trial at Southampton Crown Court, the victim shared the devastating impact the attack had on her life. “What happened to me destroyed my life in ways I never thought possible. I didn’t just feel violated, I felt erased,” she said, adding that the trauma led to self-harm and an attempt to take her own life.

Regardless, Judge Gary Lucie sentenced Hotak to a mere 10-year prison term, with an additional four years subject to license conditions following his release. Hotak was also placed on the sex offenders’ register and given an indefinite restraining order to prevent him from contacting the victim.

Britain’s Home Office, roughly equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will now consider whether to deport Hotak following his sentence—although many violent criminals and secual predators from countries like Afghanistan are able to overturn deportation orders by appealing against removal on human rights grounds.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
William Upton
NatSec
Religion

D.C. Area Mosque Pledges Loyalty to Iran’s Dead Supreme Leader.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Manassas Mosque in northern Virginia—about 30 miles outside of Washington, D.C.—has pledged its loyalty to Iran’s deceased Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint-U.S.-Israeli airstrikes over the weekend.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Manassas Mosque, Ali Khamenei, Twelver Muslims, and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The post was made on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Please join us tomorrow night, Sunday, March 1st to remember His Eminence as we navigate what our responsibilities are today. Join us at 6:00 PM as we begin with Salatul Maghrib, a potluck iftar, and end with a discussion and remembrance.” —  Manassas Mosque

🎯IMPACT: Shia Islam—especially the more radical Twelver sect, followed by the Iranian mullahs and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D)—believes in an apocalyptic prophecy where the “Hidden Mahdi” will reveal themselves as a messiah like figure and battle the Antichrist, which they call “Dajjal,” in a final war. Some clerics within Twelver Shi’ism have taken to labeling U.S. President Donald J. Trump as the “Dajjal.”

IN FULL

The Manassas Mosque in northern Virginia—about 30 miles outside of Washington, D.C.—has pledged its loyalty to the late Iranian Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint-U.S.-Israeli airstrikes over the weekend. In an Instagram post, the Manassas Mosque announced it was dedicating its iftar potluck on Sunday evening to “honoring our leader, Shaheed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.”

“Manassas Mosque extends its condolences and glad tidings on the martyrdom of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei,” the mosque wrote in a post on Instagram, adding, “Please join us tomorrow night, Sunday, March 1st to remember His Eminence as we navigate what our responsibilities are today. Join us at 6:00 PM as we begin with Salatul Maghrib, a potluck iftar, and end with a discussion and remembrance.”

In addition, several reports indicate the mosque, which says it seeks “to nourish a community of pious, educated, socially conscious, and active Muslims living in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area by providing the commensurate religious, educational, and social services,” has set up a shrine featuring photos of Khamenei embracing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. During a Friday service, the mosque’s imam declared, “May Allah destroy all the nonbelievers-or kafiroon or munafiqoon” and alluded to the imminent coming of the “Mahdi.”


Shia Islam—especially the more radical Twelver sect, followed by the Iranian mullahs and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D)—believes in an apocalyptic prophecy where the “Hidden Mahdi” will reveal themselves as a messiah like figure and battle the Antichrist, which they call “Dajjal,” in a final war. Some clerics within Twelver Shi’ism have taken to labeling U.S. President Donald J. Trump as the “Dajjal.”

The embrace of Khamenei’s “martyrdom” by some Shia Muslims living in the United States raises significant security concerns. The National Pulse reported over the weekend that Ndiaga Diagne—a Senegal-born U.S. citizen residing in Pflugerville, Texas—executed a mass shooting at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in downtown Austin, leaving two people dead, with 14 others injured.

Diagne was wearing a shirt that said “Property of Allah” on it. He also had a Koran and clothing described as Islamic garb in his vehicle.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
News
War

Trump Refuses to Rule Out ‘Boots on the Ground’ in Iran: ‘I Don’t Have the Yips About It.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has stated he might send U.S. ground troops into Iran “if they were necessary,” although he believes they are “probably” not needed.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the Iranian regime, and U.S. military service members.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The comments were made on Monday, following the commencement of ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting Saturday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground,” said Trump.

🎯IMPACT: The strikes have reportedly decapitated Iran’s leadership, with Trump claiming the operation is ahead of schedule.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has refused to rule out a land invasion of Iran, telling the New York Post that he is open to “boots on the ground” if the situation calls for it. This follows the launch of Operation Epic Fury, a U.S.-Israeli mission started on Saturday aimed at eliminating the Islamic Republic of Iran’s senior leadership, ballistic missile and nuclear infrastructure, and high-value military assets.

“I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground,” Trump said. “[E]very president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground.’ I don’t say it,” he continued, adding: “I say ‘probably don’t need them,’ [or] ‘if they were necessary.’”

This marks something of a break with Vice President J.D. Vance, who said there was “no chance” of a long war in Iran shortly before operations began, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who insisted on Monday that “This is not Iraq. This is not endless… [Trump] called the last 20 years of nation-building wars dumb, and he’s right. This is the opposite. This operation is a clear, devastating, decisive mission: Destroy the missile threat, destroy the navy, no nukes.”

Despite keeping his options open on a land invasion, Trump stressed that Epic Fury is currently “right on schedule, way ahead of schedule” in terms of eliminating Iran’s leadership, citing “49 killed”—including the country’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Pushing back on polling suggesting the war is unpopular, the President insisted, “I think that the polling is very good,” but added that, in any case, “I don’t care about polling.”

“I have to do the right thing,” he said, stressing that “You cannot let Iran, who’s a nation that has been run by crazy people, have a nuclear weapon,” and that he believes “a real poll” would show the “silent majority” is on his side.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
War

Pakistani Prez Backs Iran, Rioters Kill at Least 22, Injure Over 120 Amid Attacks on U.S. and UN Offices.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: At least 22 people were killed and over 120 injured after pro-Iran rioters stormed a U.S. consulate and United Nations (UN) offices in Pakistan, where President Asif Ali Zardari has backed Tehran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Pro-Iran rioters, Pakistani security forces, U.S. and U.N. personnel, and Pakistani officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The riots occurred across multiple cities in Pakistan, including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar, following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Pakistan stands with the Iranian nation in this moment of grief and shares in their loss.” – Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari

🎯IMPACT: The unrest has led to deaths, injuries, and heightened tensions, prompting Pakistani officials to deploy troops and appeal for calm.

IN FULL

Pro-Iran rioters have stormed a U.S. consulate and United Nations (UN) offices in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, killing at least 22 people and injuring more than 120. The chaos broke out in the wake of ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran, which have killed multiple senior officials, including the country’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari sent condolences to Iran after Khamenei’s “martyrdom,” saying, “Pakistan stands with the Iranian nation in this moment of grief and shares in their loss.” However, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged public restraint, asking citizens to avoid taking matters into their own hands while also referring to Khamenei as a martyr.

In Karachi, rioters managed a brief assault on the U.S. Consulate’s outer perimeter before police stepped in to scatter them. In the capital of Islamabad, rioters pushed toward the U.S. Embassy, leading police to deploy tear gas and batons to hold back the crowd from entering the diplomatic zone.

In the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, violence claimed 12 lives and left over 80 people injured when thousands descended on UN offices. Local authorities confirmed that staff inside were unharmed, though the rioters caused significant damage to property and set fire to police stations. More skirmishes took place near the U.S. Consulate in Lahore and in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Security has been ramped up at American diplomatic sites across Pakistan in an attempt to deter further violence.

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
William Upton
War

Lebanon Bans Hezbollah, Demands Iranian Terror Proxy Surrender to Military.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has announced “the immediate ban of all Hezbollah security and military activities… considering them illegal.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hezbollah leader Mohammad Raad, and Iran’s deceased Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Monday, March 2, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: Salam says the Lebanese government is enforcing “the immediate ban of all Hezbollah security and military activities… considering them illegal.”

🎯IMPACT: The move against Hezbollah could trigger violent internal conflict in Lebanon. The country is nearly evenly split into sectarian thirds, with about one-third Christian, one-third Shia Muslim, and one-third Sunni Muslim.

IN FULL

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has announced “the immediate ban of all Hezbollah security and military activities and considering them illegal.” Salam is demanding that Hezbollah—an Iranian-backed Islamist terror group—lay down its arms and turn themselves over to Lebanese government forces.

The demand comes after elements of Hezbollah launched unsuccessful rocket attacks against Israel Sunday evening, which appear to have been intercepted by possible Iron Beam—a directed-energy air defense system—technology. An additional suicide drone launched by Hezbollah appears to have struck the Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Akrotiri on the island of Cyprus. Subsequently, Israel‘s decapitation strikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon resulted in a new round of significant deaths among the Islamist terror group’s commanders, including its political leader in the Lebanese parliament, Mohammad Raad.

Concerningly, the move against Hezbollah could trigger violent internal conflict in Lebanon. The country is nearly evenly split into sectarian thirds with about one-third Christian, one-third Shia Muslim, and one-third Sunni Muslim. Notably, the Lebanese civil war, which ran from 1975 to 1990, saw the country’s overwhelming Christian majority reduced from around 53 percent of the population to what it is today. Following the civil war, a new power-sharing government was formed, with guaranteed sectarian representation.

Thus far, Hezbollah has been the most active of Iran‘s terror proxies in the Middle East in response to major U.S. and Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The joint strikes have killed a significant number of Iran’s key political, military, and religious leaders, including the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Lebanon’s leaders have tried to disarm Hezbollah in the past, with the efforts ending unsuccessfully.

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