The Vigilant Outpost Beacon
March 17, 2026
Iran Terrorizes Tankers as Allies Refuse Escorts, Leaving U.S. to Defend Oil It Doesn’t Need
WORLD
World at Large:
Israel says it has killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security official
China responds after Trump urges countries to send warships to secure Strait of Hormuz
Saudi Crown Prince urges US to keep hitting Iran
WORLD — BY COUNTRY
United States:
President Trump says Iran is ready to negotiate a ceasefire but he's not ready to make a deal
Islandwide blackout hits Cuba as it struggles with energy crisis
Sable Offshore Corp. begins pumping oil off California coast
China:
US signals possible delay to Beijing summit as U.S. pressures China to help reopen Strait of Hormuz
China Directly Mediating Between Pakistan & Afghanistan After Weeks Of War
Russia:
Russia Reports: Ukraine loses around 1,135 troops in special op zone in one day
Russian Government Bond Index up above 120 points first since last September
India:
Two India carriers secure safe passage through Strait of Hormuz
Watch: At UN General Assembly, India slams Pakistan’s ‘air-bombing campaigns’ during Ramadan
Hundreds feared dead in strike on Kabul hospital
Japan:
Japan begins release of oil reserves as Iran war sparks energy crisis
92% of job-seeking university students in Japan held offers as of Feb. 1, data shows
High school student and captain die after boats capsize off Henoko in Okinawa
Canada:
Transparency watchdog blasts ‘shocking’ Ontario plan to hide premier cellphone records
Venezuela:
"We're At War": Ecuador Deploys 75,000 Troops, Launches Anti-Cartel Missile Strikes; Colombia Warns "We're Being Bombed"
Longtime Oil Exec Worked For CIA, Helped Oust Maduro
Arabic Middle East
UAE’s Fujairah oil trading hub targeted by a drone attack, causing large fire
Drone strike disrupts Dubai flights as Iran continues Gulf attacks
Bahrain Starts Output Cuts at World’s Top Aluminum Smelter
Israel:
Jerusalem Braces For Unrest After Wartime Closure Of Al-Aqsa Mosque Through Ramadan
Israel says Iran's security chief Ali Larijani has been killed in strike
Lebanon Pleads for International Intervention as Israeli Strikes Kill Hundreds
UNITED STATES — GOVERNMENT
White House:
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud
President Trump says he thinks he will have the 'honor' of 'taking Cuba'
Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s Nomination for DHS Secretary Draws Bipartisan Acclaim
State Department:
On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day - United States Department of State
Dept of War (DoW):
The US has several options to counter Iranian mines
US Army plans research center to boost explosives production
DHS:
US National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent resigns over Iran war
HHS:
Judge blocks parts of RFK Jr.'s vaccine agenda, including new childhood vaccine schedule
Energy:
Slow Progress Pushes Trump Admin To Talk With Westinghouse Rivals Concerning New Nuclear Powerplants in US
DOE Unleashes $500M To Break China's Grip On Critical Materials
Senate:
Sen. Mike Lee: We've 'Turned Kind Of A Corner’ On The Save Act
Airline CEOs urge Congress to fund Department of Homeland Security amid shutdown
No Progress in US Senate on DHS shutdown
Supreme Court:
Justices will hear argument on Trump administration’s removal of protected status for Syrian and Haitian nationals
Court agrees to hear case on environmental laws, does not act on several Second Amendment challenges
Justices poised to adopt exceptions to federal criminal defendants’ appellate waivers
ECONOMY & MARKETS
AAA National Average Gas Price Soars Most On Record
US Pending Home Sales Barely Bounce Off Record Lows Despite Tumbling Rates In Feb
SCIENCE
NASA launches twin spacecraft to solve the mystery of Mars’ lost atmosphere
NASA Invites Media to Learn About Upcoming X-59 (Sonic Thump) Test Flights
US Panel Could Scrap Endangered Species Protections For Gulf of America
AI reads brain MRIs in seconds and flags emergencies
TECH & SECURITY
Elon Musk offers warning following reports of Amazon meeting to address AI-related outage
B-21 Raider completed ‘close-proximity flight’ with KC-135 tanker, US Air Force confirms
Nvidia’s version of OpenClaw could solve its biggest problem: security
ODDS & ENDS
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