Summary:

Israel claims major decapitation strike: Says Ali Larijani and Basij chief Gholamreza Soleimani were killed, but Iran disputes.

Iran rejects ceasefire, vows escalation: Leadership says it’s not “the right time for peace” until the US and Israel are “brought to their knees,” while denying any negotiations.

New oil targeting phase as Tehran pledges to be gatekeeper of Hormuz: Ships pass only “in coordination” with Tehran – talk of separate deal-making with BRICS capitals.

Iraq and UAE feel the pain: Drones hit the US Embassy area and Baghdad’s Green Zone, while strikes on UAE energy infrastructure and tankers push oil risks higher.

Allies hesitate as Trump issues contradictory rhetoric: Key NATO states are refusing to join US efforts to secure Hormuz, amid lack of confidence in Trump’s often shifting articulation of operation.

Pentagon on Monday confirmed about 200 servicemembers wounded so far in war, though says many of these ‘light’.

* * *

Israel Claims Big Decapitation Strike: Larijani & Basij Chief

Israel is making another big ‘decapitation strike’ claim, saying it has taken out Iran’s top security believed to be effectively running the country and the war, Ali Larijani. Israel further announced early Tuesday the lontime head of the Basij militia, Gholamreza Soleimani, was also killed.

If true it would mark one of the most significant blows to Tehran’s leadership since the war began. But in classic fog-of-war fashion, Tehran is pushing back against Israeli statements. Tehran has presented a handwritten message attributed to him, though not exactly what passes for proof of life.

On annual ‘Quds Day’ protest last week, Larijani openly challenged the US-Israeli attacks by showing up in the streets of Tehran.

The note was released ahead of funeral ceremonies for Iranian sailors killed in a recent US strike, and urges citizens to show support for the national ‘martyrs’ – but in the end does little to clarify whether Larijani is alive or dead. Just days ago he was seen marching defiantly in the streets of Tehran with other high-ranking officials as US-Israeli bombs fell not too far away.

The IDF announcement proclaiming his alleged death:

🔴Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the regime’s effective leader, has been eliminated.

Throughout the years, Larijani was considered one of the most veteran and senior figures within the Iranian regime leadership, and was a close associate… pic.twitter.com/kBIgSSGBm0

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 17, 2026

“The martyrdom of the brave members of the Navy of the Army of the Islamic Republic in Dena is part of the sacrifices of the proud nation that has emerged in this time of struggle against international oppressors,” Larijani wrote, in what could prove to be his last message. If he is deceased, he is likely to quickly be replaced.

No Peace Yet: Must Be ‘Brought to Their Knees’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is calling on citizens to flood the streets for mass funerals of sailors killed when the IRIS Dena was sunk off the coast of Sri Lanka. Enemies “should know that in the shadow of the name of each of these high-ranking martyrs, thousands of other brave men will rise,” he said.

Most importantly, he announced that Islamic Republic leadership is rejecting any talk of de-escalation. Iran will exact a steep cost against its aggressors, he vowed. It is not “the right time for peace until the United States and Israel are brought to their knees, accept defeat, and pay compensation,” a senior official was quoted in Al Jazeera as saying, describing the position as “very tough and serious.”

Iran’s messaging here has been consistent. On Monday when President Trump claimed Tehran was “talking” – and later there were reports of text messages between Iran’s FM Araghchi and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Iran’s government was quick to call this fake news.

“We don’t ask for ceasefire, but this war must end, in a way that our enemies never again think about repeating such attacks,” Araghchi has said. Central Israel has also continued to see inbound projectiles, also from Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran: Hormuz Isn’t Officially Shut, But it Controls Who Gets Through

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei pushed back on blockade claims, while signaling Tehran is effectively managing traffic through the critical chokepoint – as it tries to play nice with its BRICS allies but tries to keep the leverage on Washington, its allies, and the global economy.

“Ships from some countries passed through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said, framing Iran’s position as ultimately as the gatekeeper of the world’s most important oil artery. “Iran has always been the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz and the safe passage of ships.”

⚡️CENTCOM publishes new footage of strikes in Iran pic.twitter.com/xU1kGunLtA

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) March 17, 2026

This could include pledges for Indian, Chinese, and Russian safe passage – and there’s been evidence of some of these getting through, just as in the Houthis Red Sea crisis of last year.

On Tuesday, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said: “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be the same as before and return to its previous conditions,” adding that “there is no longer any security.”

Bombardment of US Bases, Embassy, Oil Sites

“We have no hostility toward regional countries,” Baghad also said. “What we target are American bases and assets.” This after a likely Iranian-made drone hit the US Embassy in Baghad to start of this week, and also a drone slammed into the central Al-Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad’s highly protected Green Zone.

Air defenses in the Green Zone engaged incoming threats, but to no avail – the drones still got through. At the same time, energy infrastructure is increasingly in the crosshairs.

⚡️C-RAM fireworks over Baghdad continue pic.twitter.com/laf1QXOS56

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) March 16, 2026

A drone attack forced the shutdown of a gas field in Abu Dhabi, while a tanker was reportedly hit by an “unknown projectile” near a UAE oil port – only adding more pressure to already volatile markets and pushing oil prices higher.

C-RAM System reportedly seen in action, but is Green Zone’s defense crumbling?

An Iranian-backed militia successfully used a (likely fiber optic) FPV drone to carry out a reconnaissance mission through the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad yesterday.

Seen here, the drone flies unchallenged through the embassy complex for nearly two minutes. pic.twitter.com/S1Ky3eVUv0

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 17, 2026

“Nor Our War”: NATO Allies

Still, amid all this, NATO allies are holding back – perhaps confused and lacking confidence in President Trump’s daily shifting rhetoric, and as sometimes Trump issues contradictory messaging on the same day, or even in the very same presser.

“What does … Donald Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to ​do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful US Navy cannot do?” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters on Monday. “This is not our war, we have not started it.“

What the Western allies see…

CNN airs compilation of Trump’s contradictions from his afternoon event pic.twitter.com/hzMWWRuSW4

— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) March 16, 2026

Some leading NATO powers have made clear they won’t directly support any military effort to unblock the strait – including Germany, Italy, and Spain.

President Trump himself has conceded this week of Western partners: “Some are very enthusiastic about ​it, and some aren’t. Some are countries that we’ve helped for many, many years. We’ve ⁠protected them from horrible outside sources, and they weren’t that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm matters to ​me.” Naturally they might be looking back only to last year and the Gaza War, when the major US-led naval coalition in the Red Sea struggled to halt Houthi attacks on global shipping, resulting in a stalemate and uneasy status quo where the Iran-linked Houthis built a lot of leverage.

Iran’s “New Phase Of Oil War”

Bloomberg Opinion and commodities columnist Javier Blas has written on X. “Further ominous developments today. For the first time, Iran successfully targeted oil and gas production facilities, rather than refining, terminals, and storage,”

Blas listed the IRGC’s attacks on Gulf oil and gas facilities:

Oil and gas field in the UAE (Shah) hit

Oil field in Iraq (Majnoon) attacked

Plus Saudi Arabia saw large drone swarms

He explained that these attacks suggest “Iran has started a new phase of its oil war” against Gulf states aligned with the US. “Tehran is clearly going after the Strait of Hormuz bypass route, with Fujairah (UAE) coming under attack. But so far, the Saudi pipeline bypass hasn’t been attacked, and neither the Yemeni Houthis have tried to close the Red Sea,” Blas said. Brent crude has jumped more than 40% since the start of Operation Epic Fury in late February, but out-of-control spikes in crude markets have largely been capped so far by the IEA’s 32-nation “historic” emergency SPR release. Read our fuller analysis here.

Authored by Adam Dick via the Ron Paul Institute,

There was some good news for liberty on Friday. That is when a roughly 80 percent reduction in the fee the United States government imposes on individuals giving up their US citizenship took effect. The fee was lowered from 2,350 dollars to 450 dollars.

The move toward implementing the fee reduction had been in progress for several years in reaction to a lawsuit against the US government.

For people with enough wealth or recent income, or who don’t adequately establish their IRS tax compliance, there remains yet another payment the US government demands — an exit tax calculated based on the value of their assets.

While the significant reduction in the citizenship renunciation fee is welcome news, it is disgraceful that the US government imposes any fee whatsoever. Back in August of 2017, I commented on the fee, stating:

Most people who are US citizens did not choose to be such. They had that citizenship thrust on them as a matter of law upon their birth. To make people pay to give up citizenship for which they never asked is an abomination.

It was only in 2010 that the fee on giving up US citizenship was introduced at 450 dollars, the same amount it returned to on Friday.

Before 2010, individuals could renounce their US citizenship without the government demanding any fee. And the exit tax came into being just two years earlier — in 2008.

How about next returning to the situation before 2008, when individuals could renounce their US citizenship without the imposing of either the fee or the tax?

Crude oil futures rose in overnight trading, with Brent nearly reaching $105 per barrel and WTI climbing as high as $98.42 per barrel, as Iran intensified drone strikes on energy infrastructure across the Gulf.

“Further ominous developments today. For the first time, Iran successfully targeted oil and gas production facilities, rather than refining, terminals, and storage,” Bloomberg Opinion and commodities columnist Javier Blas wrote on X.

Blas listed the IRGC’s attacks on Gulf oil and gas facilities:

Oil and gas field in the UAE (Shah) hit

Oil field in Iraq (Majnoon) attacked

Plus Saudi Arabia saw large drone swarms

He explained that these attacks suggest “Iran has started a new phase of its oil war” against Gulf states aligned with the US.

🚨 JUST IN: Shah oil field in UAE is burning after Iranian drone strikes – The war is now almost impossible for anyone to contain. pic.twitter.com/47wVpfUlo5

— 𝐓𝐌𝐓 (@TMT_arabic) March 16, 2026

“Tehran is clearly going after the Strait of Hormuz bypass route, with Fujairah (UAE) coming under attack. But so far, the Saudi pipeline bypass hasn’t been attacked, and neither the Yemeni Houthis have tried to close the Red Sea,” Blas said.

Further ominous developments today. For first time, Iran successfully targeted oil/gas production facilities (rather than refining, terminals and storage):

Oil and gas field in the UAE (Shah) hit
Oil field in Iraq (Majnoon) attacked
Plus Saudi Arabia saw large drone swarms https://t.co/TedeVLrsly

— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) March 16, 2026

The continued bombardment of Gulf energy infrastructure by IRGC forces entered its third week, with the Strait of Hormuz mostly paralyzed.

BREAKING: Abu Dhabi’s media office says authorities are responding to a fire at the Shah oil and gas field caused by a drone attack, adding that no injuries have been reported. pic.twitter.com/5L3AObO2eB

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) March 16, 2026

Brent crude has jumped more than 40% since the start of Operation Epic Fury in late February, but out-of-control spikes in crude markets have largely been capped so far by the IEA’s 32-nation “historic” emergency SPR release.

To begin the week, the Trump administration showed urgency to reopen the critical maritime chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC’s Squawk Box on Monday morning that the US is deliberately “allowing Iranian oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz” and is “fine” with some Indian and Chinese ships moving through “for now… to supply the rest of the world.”

Bessent highlighted “more and more of the fuel ships start[ing] to go through” and a possible “natural opening” the Iranians are permitting, a tactical concession to stabilize global supply while full escorts remain “militarily” off the table for now.

Last week, we highlighted JPMorgan’s head of commodity research, Natasha Kaneva, who warned that policy measures will have, at best, a limited impact on oil prices unless safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is assured, given the potential for up to 12 mbd in losses over the next two weeks.

Kaneva noted that Strait traffic is likely to become “increasingly conditional,” with Iran permitting passage for some vessels depending on their affiliation.

“The biggest risk in the market is the Strait of Hormuz remaining constrained for a longer stretch and the market feeling the US and its allies have a limited capacity to alter the dynamic,” Pepperstone Group analyst Chris Weston said.

Trump’s move to reopen the Hormuz chokepoint with a naval coalition largely fell flat at the start of the week. Allied countries, including Australia, Germany, and Japan, said they weren’t planning to send their warships through the critical waterway to shadow commercial tanker traffic.

In the US, the effects of an energy shock from the Middle East, according to new AAA data, show regular gas at the pump has jumped the most for any single month on record, up 25% so far in March.

The US national average for regular gas could very well be headed for the politically sensitive $4 mark. 

AAA data also showed the nationwide average retail price for diesel hit $5 a gallon, for the first time since December 2022.

CHART OF THE DAY: US retail average diesel prices have topped the $5-per-gallon barrier for the 2nd time ever.

That’s freight inflation — and another big hit to the country’s farming economy (and it has received many hit since Trump came into office) pic.twitter.com/lIUDbhqsC4

— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) March 17, 2026

On Monday, JPMorgan analysts asked, “Is there an off-ramp?” to the Middle East conflict. That answer remains unclear at the moment. While the Trump administration is searching for an off-ramp, that may take a few more weeks.

The latest read on the American consumer comes from Goldman analysts led by Leah Jordan, who compiled the most important commentary from food companies on consumer behavior trends in the fourth quarter. It’s worth noting, however, that this snapshot predates the energy shock triggered by the U.S.-Iran conflict.

Jordan’s food and retail stock coverage includes 15 companies: Albertsons Companies, Conagra Brands, Cal-Maine Foods, General Mills, Grocery Outlet, Hormel Foods, Hershey, Kraft Heinz, Kroger, Mondelez International, Once Upon a Farm, Pilgrim’s Pride, Sprouts Farmers Market, Tyson Foods, and United Natural Foods.

On fourth quarter earnings results, the analyst said, “Overall, we continue to favor grocers that should benefit from ongoing consumption shifts toward fresh and private label, along with support from scale as the balance of power shifts toward retailers, highlighting Buy-rated ACI, KR, and SFM.”

She added, “While some headwinds persist for certain areas of packaged food, our Buy ratings for HSY (on CL), MDLZ, OFRM, HRL, SFD, and TSN are underpinned by solid top-line growth given category/region exposure, along with idiosyncratic and self-help margin drivers.”

The analyst then summarized what each company and retailer was saying about the consumer. The biggest takeaway is that the K-shaped economy remains an uncomfortable reality for the Trump administration. Jordan noted that the companies in her coverage struck an “overall cautious tone” regarding the consumer.

She continued:

We observed a continuation of cautious commentary around the consumer in 4Q, noting the majority of food retailers and manufacturers highlighted declining consumer sentiment along with an increased focus on affordability, especially for lower- and middle-income cohorts. Specifically, companies highlighted increased consumer engagement with items on promotion, smaller baskets, channel shifts toward club/value, and strong demand for value sizes (multi-packs/smaller packs) and private label. Overall, we continue to see a bifurcation across food, with strength in opening price points as well as premium and differentiated products (e.g., value-added, higher-quality ingredients, innovation). Regarding SNAP, most companies indicated temporary pressure from the pause to benefits during the government shutdown in the quarter, while we expect it to be a slight headwind in 2026 given ongoing reductions in the program. We note the greatest SNAP exposure for GO among the grocers (Exhibit 6) and CAG among packaged food (Exhibit 7). Amid this consumer backdrop, we observed incremental price investments by food retailers in the quarter, along with a step-up in brand investments by packaged food companies, with most seeing improvements in promotional lifts recently (Exhibit 8). We expect the long-term trend for private-label adoption to continue given its value proposition, while quality has improved and the stigma has waned, which should be a tailwind for food retailers and a headwind for packaged food companies.

Consumer pressure noted by food companies

It is no secret that the K-shaped economy has been a major challenge for the Trump administration. Notably, the comments above from food companies were made before the energy shock of the past two weeks triggered by the U.S.-Iran conflict. The administration has insisted that the conflict will be short-lived and that any rise in energy prices will be temporary.

However, if the conflict persists and Brent and WTI futures remain above $100/bbl, higher pump prices could weigh on consumer sentiment and negatively affect consumer behavior on the retail side of the economy.

Related:

Cost of Living Crisis Continues As Job Market Wanes

401(k) Hardship Withdrawals Hit Record High

Professional subscribers can read much more from Goldman’s “Americas Food: Key themes from 4Q results” on our Marketdesk.ai portal

Authored by Steve Watson via modernity.news,

Rachel Rooney, once a celebrated children’s poet, has been forced to abandon her career after trans activists launched a vicious assault on her for simply stating biological truths. In a revealing new interview, she details the bullying that ended her time in publishing, all because she refused to bow to radical gender ideology pushed on kids.

The backlash highlights yet another example of the alphabet mob silencing anyone who deviates from their dogma, prioritizing activist agendas over free speech and child safeguarding in the UK.

“This is the book that ended my career,” Rooney told The Telegraph, referring to her 2018 title My Body is Me!, which encourages children to accept their natural bodies. The book was designed to counteract the “explosion” of books promoting radical gender ideology.

✍️ ‘Author @RooneyRachel made the mistake of speaking up for women and children’s rights in an industry dominated by rigid gender ideology’

Read the full story below 🖇️https://t.co/6OrvxjaGza pic.twitter.com/yVgNXV0FX9

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 16, 2026

Trans activists didn’t see it that way. They branded My Body is Me! as ‘terrorist propaganda’ and ‘transphobic,’ sparking a harassment campaign that included death threats, online abuse, and professional blacklisting. Rooney endured relentless vilification, leading her to announce she was “withdrawing from public life” as a writer.

“I’ve given up writing children’s books after being vilified by trans activists,” Rooney stated in the interview, describing the “traumatic cancellation” that followed her daring to speak up for children and women’s rights.

You can’t tell a child their body is wonderful while also encouraging them to believe they are the opposite sex.
It’s not rocket science.
I have a signed copy of My Body is Me! to give away – just put a ❤️ below ⬇️ & I’ll contact the winner by DM.
*UK ONLY* pic.twitter.com/iayawMBZkv

— Rachel Rooney (@RooneyRachel) February 9, 2024

The report notes that her publisher distanced itself, events were canceled, and the Society of Authors—supposed to defend writers—faced criticism for failing to support members against such cancel culture. Rooney’s experience echoes broader attacks on authors like J.K. Rowling, where expressing that sex is binary invites mob fury.

This is the book that led to @RooneyRachel losing her career in children’s publishing: a joyful, inclusive book encouraging children to feel at home in their bodies.

You can buy it here:
3/https://t.co/2HIv9ygg86 pic.twitter.com/cI46FipWD9

— TransgenderTrend (@Transgendertrd) September 5, 2024

Rooney told The Telegraph, “It is an inclusive and life-affirming book. I knew I’d probably get a little bit of stick for it, but I had no idea of what I would actually get. No idea.”

Children’s author hounded by other children’s authors because she’s against the unnecessary medicalisation of kids.

This is her charming book for 3-y year olds “My Body Is Me” https://t.co/JLNFJz8Oaj pic.twitter.com/VpDgCNaGYV

— 💚🤍💜Hoardosaurus 💚🤍💜 (@coccinellanovem) January 14, 2026

Rooney adds, “I expected the activists to attack me, but I didn’t expect it from the people I worked with. I noticed when publishers and other people in the industry who used to follow me [on social media] suddenly blocked me. It only takes one person in an organisation. I received an email from my publisher by mistake to another member of staff, apologising that my views had upset them. The activists were being pandered to because they caused trouble.”

Here is the full text of My Body is Me!
All 284 (some repeating) words of it.
Let me know if you have any issues with the message. pic.twitter.com/HTYQlgidj8

— Rachel Rooney (@RooneyRachel) November 21, 2021

A huge thanks to Jessica Ahlberg for her input, illustrations & bravery putting her name to the book #MyBodyisMe. Her illustrations of children are so warm and they’re such familiar characters, you keep spotting new little details every time you look. https://t.co/xY3QlGs55F pic.twitter.com/MGrNpRKjs8

— TransgenderTrend (@Transgendertrd) December 11, 2020

There has been a broader surge in ‘children’s books’ that tie into this indoctrination trend. Parents have called it “psychological warfare” on kids, while LGB Alliance CEO Kate Barker has labeled it “grooming in plain sight” and an “egregious safeguarding failure.”

One parent shocked by the display highlighted in the report above regarding the museum display said, “Kids should not tolerate grown men in the nude around them,” noting how such books normalize inappropriate themes under the rainbow flag. Shadow equalities secretary Claire Coutinho added, “It is madness that the children’s section… allows them to read about what it means to be ‘polyamorous’ or ‘pansexual’.”

The indoctrination also extended to children’s television programming. In excess of 650 families have charged that the BBC is providing a “constant drip-feed” of biased content promoting trans lifestyles in shows like Hey Duggee, which features “they/them” pronouns. A Bayswater Support Group spokesman warned, “The constant stream of propaganda about gender and trans activism the BBC has transmitted has played a significant role in creating a dangerous culture for children.”

The letter to Ofcom accused the broadcaster of leading “non-conforming children… to believe simplistic identity labels and extreme medical interventions can resolve complex feelings,” resulting in “a generation of teens and young adults who have come to severe harm.” The BBC’s defense? They’ve “updated the news style guide,” but parents see it as too little, too late.

Netflix children’s programming has also come under scrutiny for the same reasons.

.@Netflix is shamelessly distorting what it means to be gay.

Here is Barney Guttman, of Netfix’s animated series for children, ‘Dead End’.

Apparently Barney is a “trans boy” (we all know that really means female) who has a boyfriend, Logan.https://t.co/8bS3WZeKKH pic.twitter.com/O7QNGEC2Jx

— gender is harmful (@genderisharmful) January 25, 2026

OMG. Dead End Paranormal Park, a show on Netflix, is pushing pro-transgender on CHILDREN.

This show is advertised for 7-YEAR-OLDS

It’s being promoted on @netflix kids now.

Parents- BEWARE pic.twitter.com/gh5UZftKns

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 29, 2025

Netflix’s new children’s cartoon ‘Nimona’ features pro-trans messaging and follows the journey of an LGBTQI+ character who has been dubbed a ‘sadistic little shapeshifter’ by Rolling Stone magazine.

The shapeshifting character is a reference to being trans or non-binary… pic.twitter.com/XsR3dSFF9S

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) August 17, 2023

https://t.co/m5qVf3JB48
Netflix Stocks Take Biggest Weekly Drop Since April as Trans Content Aimed at Children Drive Users Away

— woundsrus (@woundsrus19) October 6, 2025

WTF. This is a scene from a movie on @Netflix called “Strawberry Shortcake and the Beast of Berry Bog”

It promotes boys crossdressing as girls to “express” themselves.

This show is recommended for CHILDREN of ALL AGES.

CANCEL NETFLIX pic.twitter.com/4i0gssvBSQ

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 1, 2025

Watch @HawleyMO GRILL Netflix CEO over the massive amount of children’s content pushing gender ideology on their platform.

According to a recent study by @CWforA, over 41% of children’s shows on Netflix contain LGBTQ content.pic.twitter.com/J3CQSXlG2q

— Gays Against Groomers (@againstgrmrs) February 4, 2026

As we previously highlighted, the UK government now allows primary school children to socially transition with pronoun changes, despite warnings from experts like Helen Joyce that schools have been “indoctrinating children” with trans ideology for years. Joyce emphasized, “no child can change sex,” and called for de-radicalizing teachers influenced by groups like Stonewall.

Lobbyists continually push for gender-neutral bathrooms and non-disclosure to parents, undermining family rights. “Social transitioning in primary schools should happen very rarely,” the guidance claims, yet it still permits kids as young as four to “change their gender and adopt different pronouns.” Critics like Maya Forstater blasted it as “a dangerous fairytale.”

All of this is ongoing despite the UK Supreme Court’s 2025 decision that legal sex is based on birth biology.

Rachel Rooney’s ordeal underscores the chilling effect of this ideology on creative freedom. Trans activists’ tactics—smearing dissenters as bigots—stifle debate and harm the very children they claim to protect.

Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.

More than one in three adults is obese in most U.S. states, according to the latest CDC data. In several Southern states, the rate now exceeds 40%.

This map, via Visual Capitalist’s Bruno Venditti, shows the percentage of adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher across all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The Highest Obesity Rates Are Concentrated in the South

West Virginia tops the list, with 41.4% of adults classified as obese. Mississippi follow at 40.4%, while Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee each report rates of roughly 39%.

Rank
State or Territory
Adult Obesity Rate (2024)
1
West Virginia
41.4%
2
Mississippi
40.4%
3
Guam
40.2%
4
Louisiana
39.2%
5
Tennessee*
38.9%
6
Alabama
38.9%
7
Arkansas
38.9%
8
Indiana
38.4%
9
Virgin Islands
37.7%
10
Kansas
37.6%
11
Nebraska
37.6%
12
Wisconsin
37.4%
13
Kentucky
37.2%
14
South Dakota
37.0%
15
Ohio
36.9%
16
North Dakota
36.8%
17
Oklahoma
36.8%
18
Delaware
36.6%
19
Iowa
36.6%
20
Puerto Rico
36.2%
21
Michigan
36.1%
22
Texas
35.6%
23
Georgia
35.4%
24
Missouri
34.6%
25
South Carolina
34.6%
26
New Mexico
34.5%
27
North Carolina
34.5%
28
Illinois
34.2%
29
Nevada
34.2%
30
Pennsylvania
34.2%
31
Alaska
34.0%
32
Oregon
33.5%
33
Arizona
33.3%
34
Maine
33.2%
35
Idaho
32.7%
36
Maryland
32.7%
37
Wyoming
32.5%
38
Minnesota
32.3%
39
Virginia
32.3%
40
Connecticut
32.0%
41
Washington
31.5%
42
New Hampshire
31.1%
43
Rhode Island
31.1%
44
Montana
31.0%
45
Utah
31.0%
46
Florida
29.6%
47
New York
29.5%
48
California
29.1%
49
Vermont
29.0%
50
New Jersey
27.7%
51
Hawaii
27.0%
52
Massachusetts
27.0%
53
District of Columbia
25.5%
54
Colorado
25.0%
—
🇺🇸 U.S. State and Territory Average
34.1%

*Note: Data for Tennessee is from 2022.

Much of the Southeast and parts of Appalachia cluster near the top of the rankings. These regions have historically faced higher poverty rates, limited healthcare access, and lower levels of physical activity. Diet patterns and food accessibility also play a role, particularly in rural communities.

The West and Northeast Report Lower Rates

Colorado stands out with the lowest adult obesity rate at 25%, followed by the District of Columbia at 25.5%. Hawaii and Massachusetts both come in at 27%, while New Jersey posts 27.7%.

Western states tend to report lower rates overall, with many in the low 30% range. Higher levels of outdoor recreation, urban density, and public health initiatives may contribute to these comparatively lower figures.

Nearly Every State Is Above 30%

A striking pattern emerges from the data: obesity is widespread across the country. Aside from a handful of states and jurisdictions, most report rates of 30% or higher.

Midwestern states such as Ohio (36.9%), Wisconsin (37.4%), and Indiana (38.4%) also report elevated rates.

Rising obesity rates are closely tied to increased healthcare costs and higher risks of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.

To learn more about healthcare, check out this graphic on America’s most common drugs.

New data from Anthropic reveals where its Claude AI chatbot is gaining the most traction worldwide.

While Israel tops the overall ranking, the United States leads among countries with at least 10,000 Claude conversations, scoring 3.69x on the index.

This visualization, via Visual Capitalist’s Tasmin Lockwood, maps which countries use it the most relative to their working-age population, according to the Anthropic AI Usage Index.

Where Claude Usage Is Highest by Country

Dive into the data below, which was collected across 116 countries in the week of Nov 13-20, 2025.

Each score represents usage relative to what would be expected based on a country’s working-age population.

Rank
 
Index score
1
🇮🇱 Israel
4.90x
2
🇸🇬 Singapore
4.19x
3
🇺🇸 United States
3.69x
4
🇦🇺 Australia
3.27x
5
🇨🇭 Switzerland
3.21x
6
🇨🇦 Canada
3.15x
7
🇰🇷 South Korea
3.12x
8
🇳🇿 New Zealand
3.11x
9
🇱🇺 Luxembourg
3.07x
10
🇪🇪 Estonia
3.05x
11
🇫🇷 France
2.66x
12
🇲🇹 Malta
2.63x
13
🇳🇱 The Netherlands
2.61x
14
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
2.59x
15
🇳🇴 Norway
2.43x
16
🇮🇪 Ireland
2.39x
17
🇸🇪 Sweden
2.29x
18
🇵🇹 Portugal
2.23x
19
🇧🇪 Belgium
2.17x
20
🇬🇪 Georgia
2.17x
21
🇨🇾 Cyprus
2.15x
22
🇩🇰 Denmark
2.10x
23
🇱🇹 Lithuania
2.09x
24
🇫🇮 Finland
1.95x
25
🇱🇻 Latvia
1.92x
26
🇦🇹 Austria
1.88x
27
🇸🇮 Slovenia
1.85x
28
🇩🇪 Germany
1.79x
29
🇹🇼 Taiwan
1.77x
30
🇪🇸 Spain
1.62x
31
🇮🇹 Italy
1.62x
32
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
1.61x
33
🇯🇵 Japan
1.59x
34
🇨🇿 Czechia
1.54x
35
🇲🇩 Moldova
1.47x
36
🇵🇱 Poland
1.41x
37
🇶🇦 Qatar
1.39x
38
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
1.33x
39
🇭🇷 Croatia
1.31x
40
🇷🇸 Serbia
1.24x
41
🇲🇺 Mauritius
1.24x
42
🇬🇷 Greece
1.21x
43
🇵🇪 Peru
1.19x
44
🇹🇳 Tunisia
1.14x
45
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
1.12x
46
🇺🇾 Uruguay
1.10x
47
🇺🇦 Ukraine
1.09x
48
🇸🇰 Slovakia
1.08x
49
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
1.08x
50
🇪🇨 Ecuador
1.05x
51
🇨🇱 Chile
1.04x
52
🇭🇺 Hungary
0.98x
53
🇷🇴 Romania
0.98x
54
🇦🇲 Armenia
0.97x
55
🇵🇦 Panama
0.95x
56
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
0.93x
57
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
0.92x
58
🇨🇴 Colombia
0.88x
59
🇧🇭 Bahrain
0.85x
60
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
0.82x
61
🇱🇧 Lebanon
0.78x
62
🇲🇦 Morocco
0.76x
63
🇦🇷 Argentina
0.75x
64
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
0.74x
65
🇧🇴 Bolivia
0.71x
66
🇧🇷 Brazil
0.70x
67
🇦🇱 Albania
0.68x
68
🇲🇾 Malaysia
0.66x
69
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.60x
70
🇹🇭 Thailand
0.59x
71
🇯🇲 Jamaica
0.56x
72
🇹🇷 Turkey
0.56x
73
🇻🇳 Vietnam
0.56x
74
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
0.56x
75
🇮🇩 Indonesia
0.48x
76
🇵🇭 Philippines
0.48x
77
🇵🇾 Paraguay
0.47x
78
🇸🇻 El Salvador
0.47x
79
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
0.45x
80
🇲🇽 Mexico
0.44x
81
🇮🇶 Iraq
0.43x
82
🇰🇪 Kenya
0.43x
83
🇿🇦 South Africa
0.38x
84
🇯🇴 Jordan
0.37x
85
🇰🇼 Kuwait
0.37x
86
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
0.35x
87
🇴🇲 Oman
0.35x
88
🇩🇿 Algeria
0.34x
89
🇵🇸 Palestinian Territory
0.32x
90
🇳🇵 Nepal
0.32x
91
🇷🇼 Rwanda
0.30x
92
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
0.29x
93
🇪🇬 Egypt
0.28x
94
🇬🇭 Ghana
0.27x
95
🇸🇳 Senegal
0.27x
96
🇬🇹 Guatemala
0.26x
97
🇧🇯 Benin
0.25x
98
🇨🇲 Cameroon
0.23x
99
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
0.23x
100
🇵🇰 Pakistan
0.22x
101
🇮🇳 India
0.22x
102
🇳🇬 Nigeria
0.22x
103
🇭🇳 Honduras
0.21x
104
🇱🇦 Laos
0.20x
105
🇰🇭 Cambodia
0.19x
106
🇹🇬 Togo
0.17x
107
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
0.15x
108
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
0.13x
109
🇲🇬 Madagascar
0.13x
110
🇿🇲 Zambia
0.11x
111
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
0.10x
112
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
0.09x
113
🇺🇬 Uganda
0.09x
114
🇲🇿 Mozambique
0.07x
115
🇦🇴 Angola
0.05x
116
🇹🇿 Tanzania
0.03x

Israel topped the Anthropic AI Usage Index at 4.9x, putting it well ahead of other countries. Israel has been labeled the “Start-up Nation” since a book of the same name charted its rapid growth and technological innovation.

Singapore has the second-highest uptake at 4.19x. The small city-state also performed well on last year’s Global Innovation Index, which ranks countries on research and entrepreneurship.

Because the index measures usage relative to workforce size, smaller tech-driven economies can rank highly even if their overall user base is smaller.

However, among countries with at least 10,000 conversations, the United States leads at 3.69x. It also dominates in share of actual usage, though raw usage numbers don’t necessarily equate to broad penetration, given that countries with larger populations would naturally rank higher.

Brazil ranks among the largest users of Claude in raw terms, but its score drops to 0.7x when adjusted for workforce size, showing how population size can inflate raw usage totals.

Asia fares well overall, as South Korea ranks among the top adopters per capita at 3.12x. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand occupy other top spots at 3.27x, 3.15x, and 3.11x respectively.

Most of the highest-ranking countries are in North America, Europe, Oceania, and parts of East Asia.

Malta and Georgia also made the top 20, with scores of 2.8x and 2.17x. Malta consistently punches above its weight as a European startup hub, despite being a tiny island in the Mediterranean, while efforts are underway to institutionalize AI use in Georgia.

At the bottom of the index were Tanzania and Angola, at 0.03x and 0.05x respectively.

Some smaller countries were not included due to an insufficient number of conversations over the observation period.

Uses For AI Vary

Claude usage also varies depending on economic conditions. In lower-income countries, the chatbot is commonly used for homework help and programming tasks, while wealthier countries show a broader mix of professional uses.

The dynamic could also reflect the ages of those using chatbots in different countries. In lower-income areas, there may be higher uptake among students.

To learn more about how AI, check out this graphic which charts the rise of AI chatbots.

Spain has quietly pulled its special forces out of Iraq after deteriorating security conditions made it impossible to continue operations safely, the Spanish Ministry of Defense confirmed Sunday. Spain currently has about 300 troops deployed in Iraq as part of the US-led coalition against ISIS.

The Special Operations Task Group had been training Iraqi counter-terrorism units in Baghdad and at bases in Kurdish-controlled areas in the north. Madrid said its Special Operations Task Group was relocated to undisclosed secure locations after the situation on the ground made training missions with Iraqi forces completely untenable.

Image source: US Special Operations Command Europe

It’s unknown where the commandos were moved to, but Turkey may be the safest regional country at this point, given that even American bases in Jordan have been hit by Iranian ballistic missiles and/or drone strikes.

American sites in Iraq are under attack from Iraq and local pro-Tehran militia groups, which has included the US Embassy in Baghdad being struck by a drone over the weekend, causing a broad withdrawal of Western coalition forces.

Spain’s withdrawal follows a deadly drone strike Thursday on a French military base near Erbil that killed Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion and wounded several other French soldiers. An Iranian-made Shahed drone hit the Mala Qara facility dozens of miles southwest of Erbil.

French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the attack as “unacceptable” – stressing that French forces are deployed strictly for counter-terrorism missions against ISIS. “The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks,” Macron said.

Italy has also begun quietly pulling personnel from Iraq, after Prime Minister Meloni essentially said Trump’s Iran war is not Italy’s fight. Military.com reports Monday:

Italy has also begun pulling back some of its military personnel stationed in the region. The Italian defense ministry confirmed that troops stationed at a base in Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdistan region were being withdrawn as the security situation deteriorated.

The base had hosted more than 300 Italian troops before the current escalation. Roughly 100 of those personnel have already returned to Italy, while around 40 others have been relocated to Jordan as part of the repositioning effort.

The decision to accelerate the withdrawal came after a drone strike hit the base in Erbil, highlighting the growing risks faced by foreign forces operating in the region as the war spreads. No Italian personnel were injured in that attack. Italian officials said the move was primarily intended to protect personnel as the regional security environment deteriorates.

Italian troops are expected to at least keep a light footprint in the region broadly, given that “Meloni has also stressed that tens of thousands of Italian citizens live across the Middle East and Gulf region, while roughly 2,000 Italian troops remain deployed across various missions in the area.” She has explained protecting those citizens and personnel remains a top priority, but also that Italy can’t be a party to the war.

Via Remix News,

The co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Tino Chrupalla, is actively voicing his disapproval of the American and Israeli war against Iran.

He has gone so far as to warn that the war could lead to a third world war and indicates that Trump has broken his campaign promises by launching the war.

“I am extremely disappointed in Donald Trump when it comes to his campaign promises,” Chrupalla during an appearance on Markus Lanz, generally considered the most influential talk show host in Germany.

“During the election campaign, he also accused Kamala Harris, that she would start World War III. And now we are on the cusp of having probably started the Third World War with Donald Trump. And that’s a breach of his word, which I really resent and which the American people also resent, who incidentally reject this war in Iran at a much higher rate than Germans. So, 70 percent of Americans do not want this war and do not support it.”

Chrupalla also stated it was clear the United States was dragged into the war by Israel.

“And I think the Americans, as you can really see now if you look at all the events, were dragged into this war by Israel. There were serious negotiations where Oman, as a peacemaker, came to an agreement with Israel together with the USA, and they basically started bombing Iran on the same day. The Omani Foreign Minister has described this as a huge mistake. The entire Arab world has labeled it a mistake. The Norwegian Foreign Minister has described it as a mistake. It has also been labelled a mistake by Turkey. You can’t ignore all that. These are all countries in this region that are naturally extremely worried that this will escalate into a conflagration. And that’s what we’re seeing now. It’s a huge wildfire.”

The AfD co-leader also warned that thousands have already died in the conflict, but in the worst-case scenario, this could reach even into the millions. He further warned that another refugee crisis could ensue, not just from Iran, but also from Lebanon, where Chrupalla said that 700,000 people have already been displaced.

Chrupalla said the AfD party program remains against regime change in other countries, adding the end result is often worse, pointing to Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan — all of which have also fueled Europe’s migration crisis. He acknowledged there was internal division within his own party on the strike on Iran and on the topic of Israel, but said that the party can tolerate these divisions, as the AfD is a “pluralistic” party. Chrupalla indicated that if voters do not agree with his positions or the positions of others within the AfD, then they can be voted out or in.

Chrupalla noted that at the beginning of his presidency, he was convinced that Trump was ending wars. In fact, the AfD co-leader traveled to the United States specifically for Trump’s inauguration in January 2025 to show his support.

“Now, we are on the cusp of probably starting World War III with Donald Trump. These are broken words that I resent, that the American people also resent,” he said.

Now, he said that Trump has to “explain his line to the voters.”

Regarding the killing of Khamenei, Chrupalla stated: “So I think it’s difficult when you have a head of state, whether you like him or not. And Khamenei is certainly not a head of state who has done good things for his people. I want to make that very clear. Nevertheless, I think it is rare or unique for a head of state to be killed or eliminated in this way. And the question is: what is the purpose of this and what does it achieve?”

He further said that he does not “see any exit strategy in this whole war, which is against international law, no strategy at all as to what they actually want to achieve. Do you want to create a new regime? I just don’t see that. And the Americans and the Israelis themselves can’t say that. And sometimes they contradict each other.”

When asked about the war in Gaza, Chrupalla said, “If you look at the pictures from Gaza, then I don’t think my position was the wrong one either, namely that what happened there is also a war crime. I mean, in Gaza, in principle, if you go back to surgical warfare, I mean, there’s nothing more there. No stone is left standing on another. And once again, I also stand with the Israeli people. There is no discussion at all. But if you are a friend of Israel, and we are, you must also be allowed to criticize a government, the Netanyahu government. Otherwise, it’s not a friendship if you can’t back it.”

Read more here…

Via Middle East Eye

Israel is set to keep Al-Aqsa Mosque closed through the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr and beyond, Middle East Eye has learnt. Sources familiar with the occupied East Jerusalem mosque’s affairs said Israeli authorities informed the Islamic Waqf, the body responsible for administering the site, of the decision in recent days.

Al-Aqsa Mosque, deemed one of the holiest sites in Islam, was closed by Israeli authorities earlier this month, citing the “security situation” amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. The unprecedented closure, particularly during the month of Ramadan, has been condemned by Palestinians as the latest attempt by Israel to exploit security tensions to impose further restrictions and consolidate control over Al-Aqsa.

via Reuters

This has been the first Ramadan since Israel seized East Jerusalem in 1967 that Palestinians have been unable to perform Friday prayers at the mosque.

Last week, eight Muslim-majority countries condemned the “unjustified” closure, saying Israel has “no sovereignty” over the revered site and must lift the restrictions immediately.

However, the closure has continued unchecked. Friday prayers and Ramadan night prayers remain banned, and Palestinians have been barred from reaching the site, with a heavy presence of Israeli forces in the Old City.

Since the closure, no more than 25 Waqf staff members have been allowed inside the vast mosque complex per shift. A source told MEE that Israeli authorities even rejected a request for an additional staff member from the manuscripts department to enter the site.

Police reportedly told the Waqf that if any additional employee were allowed in, Israeli settlers would be permitted to resume their daily incursions into the mosque.

The source added that Waqf officials suspect Israeli forces have also installed cameras inside prayer halls within Al-Aqsa Mosque, including inside the Dome of the Rock, enabling constant surveillance of the site.

Old City shutdown

The closure of the mosque has been accompanied by a near-total lockdown of the Old City, where Al-Aqsa Mosque and dozens of normally vibrant Palestinian-run markets are located.

Only residents of the Old City have been allowed inside since the war with Iran began, leaving the area deserted. Meanwhile, life has continued largely uninterrupted just meters away outside the Old City’s ancient walls.

Sunday was the Laylat al-Qadr, the holiest night in the Islamic calendar. Israel deployed hundreds of police to block routes to the mosque, forcing worshippers to pray on the streets under the threat of violence.

“Closing the Old City in this manner has never happened before,” said Dr Mustafa Abu Sway, a professor who teaches at Al-Aqsa Mosque and a member of the Islamic Waqf Council in Jerusalem. “There is an inconsistency when you compare what is happening inside the Old City with what is happening outside it, where people are moving freely, praying in mosques, and life in the city continues as normal.”

Abu Sway added that if the concern were people’s safety, worshippers could take shelter in the prayer halls beneath Al-Aqsa, which can accommodate thousands.

Aouni Bazbaz, director of international affairs at the Islamic Waqf, told MEE earlier this month that the closure has raised concerns about long-term change. “This has fueled fears that what is presented as a temporary measure could gradually become a permanent or semi-permanent arrangement, particularly if people become accustomed to the restrictions or if patterns of access to the site are altered,” he said.

BREAKING 🚨

An Iranian missile exploded over Jerusalem’s Old City, with debris reportedly falling near several major religious sites including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Armenian Patriarchate, the Jewish Quarter, and near the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount.… pic.twitter.com/BIygFllBKN

— World Affairs (geopolitics) (@geopolitics010) March 16, 2026

Al-Aqsa Mosque has been governed under a decades-long status quo, or international arrangement, preserving its religious status as an exclusively Islamic site. Under this status quo, the administration of the site, including control over access, falls to the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, the Jordanian-appointed religious endowment responsible for managing the mosque complex.

However, since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Palestinians say this arrangement has been gradually eroded through increasing restrictions on Muslim access while Jewish presence and Israeli control have expanded.

Palestinians have long alleged and complained Israel’s control over East Jerusalem, including the Old City, violates several principles of international law, which stipulate that an occupying power has no sovereignty over the territory it occupies and cannot make permanent changes there.