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Robbins lumber mill explosion: New video shows ‘horrendous’ fire in Searsmont; Maine government issues warning

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State fire investigators responded to the scene of a serious crash Friday. Robbins Lumber Company of Searsmont, Maine,according to maine Department of Public Safety.

Flames and smoke billow from the Robbins Lumber Mill in Searsmont, Maine (Representative Image/UnSplash)
Flames and smoke billow from the Robbins Lumber Mill in Searsmont, Maine (Representative Image/UnSplash)

The Fire Marshal’s Office was called to the Main Street facility and crews are actively responding to the scene. A resident named Tiffany Mannarini took video of the huge flames rising from the mill and shared the video, saying she recorded it from Appleton Ridge and could see how big the fire was.

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Governor issues warning as smoke reaches 4,000 feet

maine Governor Janet Mills addressed the situation in a statement social media Published by noon Friday. “I have been informed of what is happening in Searsmont. I urge people to stay away from the area, follow the instructions of law enforcement and allow emergency personnel to respond. I ask the people of Maine to join me in keeping an eye on all those affected,” she said.

Around the same time, real-time radar showed visible smoke rising over the area. news center maine Meteorologists confirmed that the top of the plume reached about 4,000 feet in the air, a clear indication of the fire’s severity.

Emergency dispatchers are treating the incident as a possible “mass casualty incident” and are calling for additional help from nearby emergency departments, CBS 13 reported.

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About Robbins Lumber Company

The Robbins Lumber Company was one of the most important lumber companies in the area. It owns and manages 30,000 acres of its own forests and purchases logs from more than 150 independent loggers, according to the company’s website. Its milling facility, located on 40 acres in Searsmont, includes a combined heat and power plant, kilns with a capacity of 675,000 board feet, a computerized sawmill, planing mill, a cutting shop, 70,000 square feet of warehouse space and the company’s main offices.

The cause of the incident has not been confirmed. Authorities continue to urge the public to stay away from the area.

Trump on Iran ceasefire: ‘It’s a favor to Pakistan’

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Trump on Iran ceasefire: 'It's a favor to Pakistan'

US President Donald Trump said Washington agreed to a ceasefire with Iran as a “favor” to Pakistan.Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned from China that the United States had accepted the ceasefire at Pakistan’s request and had no current plans to resume bombing Iran.“We had a ceasefire at the request of another country. I would have benefited from it, but we did it to do Pakistan a favor. They are great people, field marshals and prime ministers,” Trump said.The comments come at a sensitive time for Pakistan. Pakistan has sought to position itself as a regional mediator in the U.S.-Iran crisis but has faced questions about its neutrality amid reports and satellite images showing Iranian military jets landing at Pakistani air bases at the height of the conflict.The reports have fueled speculation that Pakistan may quietly provide logistical shelter for Iranian assets, even as it publicly presents itself as a neutral mediator in the negotiations. This has become a familiar pattern that critics often associate with Pakistan’s foreign policy, which attempts to play multiple roles simultaneously, only to find its credibility questioned when events on the ground suggest otherwise.The US-Israeli conflict with Iran began on February 28 and was suspended on April 8 under a ceasefire agreement brokered by Pakistan. From April 11 to 12, US Vice President Vance led a delegation to Islamabad for direct talks with Iranian officials, marking an unusual start to diplomacy.Trump also reiterated that the United States would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and said Tehran was under pressure to hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief.He further noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping supports keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, highlighting how the crisis has attracted all major regional and global powers.

Stock Market News: Why Nasdaq, S&P 500, Dow Jones fell today. Experts give ‘reality’ check

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Wall Street tumbled on Friday, led by technology stocks after months of gains driven by artificial intelligence, as rising oil prices, soaring bond yields and resurgent inflation concerns triggered a broad sell-off in global markets. The S&P 500 fell about 1% after hitting a record high the previous day, while the Nasdaq Composite fell more than 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also fell sharply, falling more than 400 points in early trading.

Futures options traders work on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange American Exchange (AMEX) (Reuters)
Futures options traders work on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange American Exchange (AMEX) (Reuters)

Artificial Intelligence stocks reverse sharply after huge gains

Technology stocks were among the biggest decliners on Friday. NVIDIA shares fell more than 4%, becoming one of the biggest drags on the S&P 500, despite still gaining more than 26% this year.

Applied Materials also fell despite reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profit growth driven by global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Analysts said the pullback may reflect growing concerns that artificial intelligence-related stocks have become overheated after months of sharp gains.

“To us, the market appears to have entered overbought territory,” Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management, told The Associated Press.

He added: “The road is unlikely to be smooth. In times like these, discipline is needed more than hope.”

BTIG chief market technician Jonathan Krinsky also warned investors of heightened volatility in the tech-heavy market.

“If nothing else, this should be a ‘shot in the arm’ of how volatility can work both ways,” Krinsky told the publication.

Oil price surge and Iran war factors

The latest market turmoil comes as the ongoing conflict involving Iran continues to roil global energy markets. Concerns have grown over the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for global oil supplies, causing a sharp rise in crude prices.

Brent crude oil prices rose to more than $109 a barrel on Friday, a sharp increase from about $70 before the conflict escalated. U.S. crude oil also surged above $104 a barrel.

“The market is adapting to this reality,” Florian Ielpo of Lombard Odier Asset Management told The Associated Press.

Simple market trends

stock

The S&P 500 fell 0.8% as of 10:40 a.m. New York time

The Nasdaq 100 fell 1.2%

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7%

Europe’s Stoxx 600 index fell 1.4%

MSCI World Index fell 1%

currency

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.4%

The euro fell 0.3% to $1.1629

Sterling fell 0.4% to $1.3347

The yen fell 0.2% to 158.69 against the dollar

cryptocurrency

Bitcoin falls 2.8% to $79,136.29

Ethereum drops 3.6% to $2,214.12

bond

The 10-year Treasury yield rose 9 basis points to 4.57%

German 10-year government bond yields rose 10 basis points to 3.14%

UK 10-year government bond yields rose 16 basis points to 5.15%

The 2-year Treasury yield rose 5 basis points to 4.07%

The 30-year Treasury bond yield rose 8 basis points to 5.11%

commodity

West Texas Intermediate crude rose 3.1% to $104.30 a barrel

Spot gold fell 2.1% to $4,555.47 an ounce

Polish EU lawmaker Dominik Tarczynski threatens legal action over Starmer’s “hateful and divisive” comments at London rally

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Polish EU lawmaker Dominik Tarczynski threatens legal action over Starmer's

Dominik Tarczynski, a Polish member of the European Parliament, threatens litigation be opposed to british prime minister British leader Keir Starmer has accused the organizers of a controversial rally in London of promoting “hate and division”.The row erupted ahead of a United Kingdom march in London, an event linked to anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson and expected to focus on immigration and policing.In a video message posted on X, Starmer defended the peaceful protest but harshly criticized those behind the demonstrations.“Tomorrow’s march in London is a reminder of the challenges we face in the battle for values,” Starmer said.“Organizers, including convicted thugs and racists, are peddling hatred and division. Plain and simple.”He added that the government would continue to take action against individuals accused of encouraging extremism and violence.Starmer said: “We will ban those who seek to incite disorder from entering the UK, as we already do.”Tarczynski, a member of Poland’s right-wing Law and Justice party, responded to Starmer’s post after reports that his electronic travel authorization to the UK had been revoked ahead of the rally.“I am a democratically elected member of the European Parliament. I represent the European Union,” Tarczynski wrote.“You will pay a price for calling me a hate instigator.”The Polish politician also claimed he would take personal legal action against Starmer after the next UK general election.“I will wait patiently until the British consign you to the ash heap of history. Then I will defend my honor and the honor of my constituents in court,” he wrote.The exchange came as British authorities blocked several foreign right-wing figures from entering the country ahead of demonstrations.Starmer argued that the UK remained “a country built on decency, fairness and respect” and insisted that the majority of people in the UK rejected the politics of division.

Mia Bailey: Why did a trans woman kill her parents? Chilling confession – “I have no regrets”

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A newly obtained interrogation video reveals the disturbing reasoning behind Utah The woman decided to kill her parents. Mia Bailey, 30, is serving two life sentences for the 2024 murders of her parents, Gail Bailey and Joseph Bailey, in their Utah home.

Why Mia Bailey Killed Her Parents (Utah Department of Corrections)
Why Mia Bailey Killed Her Parents (Utah Department of Corrections)

In the video obtained televisionBailey, then 28, calmly told Washington police investigators her motives, how she carried out the killings and the hours-long manhunt that followed.

Why did she kill her parents?

Bailey described years of painful conflicts with his family. She told investigators she had expressed suicidal thoughts on several occasions. “I told them multiple times that I was going to kill myself,” she said, according to KUTV.mental health decline, which is why I needed surgery. “

She said she faced an abusive home environment, was homeless and accumulated $20,000 in debt from hormone replacement therapy and other transition-related expenses. She explained that one of the things he kept her going was her upcoming gender confirmation surgery, until her mother called the hospital to intervene.

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“She tried to sabotage it. She always had boundary issues,” Bailey said, according to KUTV. “I had something happen to her and she took it away from me. Obviously, she couldn’t say sorry to save her life. I’ve given her a lot of chances in her life.”

She said that moment pushed her to the breaking point. “So much for the family,” Bailey said. “I spent years trying to repair this broken family. Eventually, I had to leave, either by suicide or homicide.”

What did Mia Bailey say about the killings?

Bailey told investigators she bought a gun from a local pawn shop and went to her parents’ house. She described the decision as sudden. “I went to my parents to do this. Kill them,” she said. “It was spur of the moment. I don’t regret it. I hate them. That was the last straw.”

She said she fired about 12 rounds, including one at her brother through a closed door. When asked if she was worried about hitting him, she replied: “Well so what”

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After the killing, Bailey fled from police, dodged helicopters and ran through yards in South St. George. She said she was looking for the last bullet to end her life. “I was actually going to stand on the cliff,” she told investigators, explaining that either police would shoot her or the fall itself would kill her.

She expressed no remorse. “I have no regrets. I hate them,” she said.

Bailey ended her confessional by saying more support was needed LGBTQ Communities, people should be able to transition with less disruption.

Bailey pleaded guilty in November 2025 to two counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated assault. She was sentenced to two terms of 25 years to life in December 2025, KUTV reported.

Not our war: Behind closed doors, UAE urges Gulf states to take action against Iran, but Saudi Arabia refuses

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Not our war: Behind closed doors, UAE urges Gulf states to take action against Iran, but Saudi refuses - report

The United Arab Emirates tried unsuccessfully to persuade Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to join a coordinated military response against Iran after Tehran launched a massive attack on the Gulf states earlier this year, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.Shortly after the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly held a series of calls with regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.It is known that UAE President MBZ believes that the Gulf countries need collective retaliation to deter Iran after Tehran launched hundreds of drones and missiles against the Gulf countries in response to US and Israeli attacks.The attacks reportedly targeted ports, airports, residential buildings and hotels in the Gulf region. Iran has also all but closed the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, disrupting oil and gas supplies and forcing Gulf states to curb production.However, several Gulf leaders reportedly refused to join a coordinated military operation, telling Emirati leaders “this is not their war,” according to people familiar with Abu Dhabi’s thinking.The disagreement reportedly exacerbated already tense relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. When speaking to Gulf leaders, MBZ reportedly reminded them that the GCC was established in 1981 primarily out of security concerns following Iran’s Islamic Revolution.These developments also help explain the UAE’s growing dissatisfaction with other Gulf states, which reportedly culminated in Abu Dhabi’s decision to withdraw from OPEC in late April. The UAE is also said to be reviewing its membership in regional organizations including the Gulf Cooperation Council.In addition to tensions related to the Iran conflict, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have become increasingly economic rivals and are at odds over regional conflicts in Yemen and Sudan.The UAE reportedly normalized diplomatic ties with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords before a fragile ceasefire came into effect on April 8, making it the Gulf state most heavily targeted by Iran.Iran reportedly launched nearly 3,000 drones and missiles towards the UAE during the conflict, but most were intercepted by air defense systems. Tehran reportedly targeted the main oil port of Fujairah and fired more projectiles even after the truce.Other Gulf states such as Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman have also come under attack, particularly targeting energy infrastructure. An attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility has reportedly caused billions of dollars in damage that could take years to repair.Despite wider regional attacks, UAE leaders reportedly believe no other Gulf state faces an attack on the same scale as Abu Dhabi.The UAE and Israel also reportedly cooperated closely during the conflict on intelligence sharing, interception of Iranian attacks, and coordination of targets within Iran. Earlier this month, MBZ held a rare phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to both governments.U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said earlier this week that Israel had sent Iron Dome air defense systems and personnel to the UAE during the conflict.Saudi Arabia also reportedly launched an attack on Iran in March before turning its focus to diplomacy. Riyadh later encouraged Pakistan to mediate between the United States and Iran.The UAE is reportedly frustrated that it was not adequately consulted during Pakistan-led diplomatic initiatives. Abu Dhabi then refused to provide Pakistan with a $3 billion loan in early April, after which Saudi Arabia stepped in to aid Islamabad.Qatar is also reportedly considering retaliatory action after Iran attacked Ras Laffan, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facility, in mid-March. However, Doha ultimately chose to prioritize efforts to de-escalate the situation.Bahrain and Kuwait, along with Saudi Arabia, are reportedly not involved in the conflict, while Oman is considered unlikely to join military action because of its relatively close ties with Iran.The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is also reportedly aware of UAE-led efforts to establish a coordinated military response in the Gulf and wants Saudi Arabia and Qatar to participate.However, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates initially tried to dissuade Trump from taking military action against Iran, fearing Tehran would retaliate against Gulf states and U.S. military bases in the region.The report added that Gulf states have tried to improve relations with Iran in recent years in the hope of stabilizing the region and promoting investment and economic growth.

UK student dies from meningitis as experts warn the disease can be ‘very deadly’

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英国学生死于脑膜炎,专家警告这种疾病可能“非常致命”

A British university student has died from meningitis, while two others are still receiving treatment / Picture: Getty Images

A university student in the UK has died from meningitis and two others are receiving treatment, health officials said, according to the BBC.The UK Health and Safety Authority (UKHSA) confirmed the death of the student, who attended Henley College in Oxfordshire. The authorities added that antibiotics are being provided to close contacts of those affected as a precautionary measure.The agency confirmed one case of meningitis B, commonly known as MenB, while further testing of the remaining cases continues.The college confirmed in a statement that the student died earlier this week.“We offer our condolences and sincere condolences to the student’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time,” the college said.“We are supporting those affected within the university community and following the advice and guidance provided by the UK Health Safety Authority.”Health officials stressed that while the investigation is ongoing, the overall risk to the general public remains low.UKHSA epidemiology consultant Dr Shamez Ladhani told the BBC it was “really unfortunate” to have multiple outbreaks reported in a short period of time.“It’s a very rare disease, but when it develops, it can be very fatal,” he said.Ladani explained that investigators have identified social links between the three cases linked to Reading and believe they may be related to the same strain.He added that authorities were tracing contacts and providing preventive antibiotics and vaccines if necessary.The development follows recent outbreaks of meningitis elsewhere in England, including cases in Kent linked to a nightclub in Canterbury and another cluster reported in Dorset earlier this year.According to health officials, meningococcal disease affects around 300 to 400 people in England each year and is most common in babies, teenagers and young adults.Symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, confusion, seizures, and a rash that does not subside with pressure.UKHSA is urging young people to ensure they are up to date with their vaccinations, including the MenACWY vaccine available through the NHS for under-25s.

Trump will accept 500,000 Chinese students in the United States

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'I can tell them I don't want any students, but...': Trump on accepting 500,000 Chinese students in US
Trump said that admitting 500,000 outstanding Chinese students would be beneficial to the United States.

US President Donald Trump has spoken of accepting 500,000 Chinese students as his administration cracks down on legal immigration, saying it is deeply insulting to say to a country “I don’t want any students.” Trump said these are good students and the United States will give them green cards, adding that this is not only relevant to China but also to students from other countries.“As far as students go, there are 500,000 students. They come, good students. I can tell them, ‘I don’t want any students.’ That’s a very insulting thing for a country to do. And then they immediately go out and start building universities all over China. But if you don’t have these students — good students, by the way — if you don’t… Another thing we did, you know, if they behaved well and wanted to stay in the United States, we gave them green cards and stuff like that. I, you know, not just them, but other countries,” Trump told Sean Hannity in an interview on Fox News.“But if you want to see a college system die, let half a million people leave it. You know, the ones that aren’t going to be hurt are the top schools. The top schools are going to do great. But your lower schools, your lower classes… those schools that are underperforming, those students… they’re going to die all over the place.”“Frankly, I think people come from other countries and learn our culture and a lot of them want to stay here. I think that’s great, but not everyone agrees with me. It doesn’t sound like a very conservative position. I’m conservative as well… I’m a conservative person. I’m really a common sense person and I think more than a conservative person. I think MAGA is common sense. You know, people understand we want strong borders, we want strong military, we want good education, we want low interest rates, we want...you know,” Trump continued.

It’s not common sense: MAGA is outraged by Trump’s weak stance

Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said it goes against common sense to admit Chinese students instead of American students. “Trump says it’s insulting to tell China their students can’t go to our universities, imagine being an American student and getting a rejection letter when 500,000 Chinese students enroll! No, it’s not OK for China to buy our farmland!!! No, that’s not common sense!” Green said.James Fishback, running for Florida governor, said he would raise tuition if Trump brought in 500,000 Chinese students. “I respect President Trump, but if he brings 500,000 Chinese students to Florida colleges, I will raise their tuition to $1 million per year. As governor, I refuse to allow limited enrollment at our taxpayer-funded colleges to be stolen by foreigners,” Fishback posted.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said the United States hopes to continue peace talks

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“收到信息”:伊朗外长阿拉格奇表示美国希望继续和谈

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to the media in Delhi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran had “received information from the United States seeking to continue negotiations.”Click here for live updates on the US-Iraq WarAraghchi made the remarks at a press conference held on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi.“The suggestion that the United States rejected the Iranian proposal or that Iran rejected the U.S. proposal relates to a few days ago when Mr. Trump tweeted that this was unacceptable,” Araghchi told reporters, referring to Tehran’s response to the U.S. proposal that called for a cessation of hostilities pending negotiations on contentious issues including Iran’s nuclear program.“But since then, we have again received messages from the Americans expressing their willingness to continue negotiations and maintain engagement,” the Islamic Republic’s top diplomat added.Trump dismissed Iran’s response as “garbage” and said ceasefireEffective April 8, “requires extensive life support” and is “incredibly weak”.“After reading that piece of garbage they sent us, I think it’s the weakest right now. I didn’t even finish reading it,” Trump told reporters earlier this week.Also read: Trump calls US-Iran ceasefire “life-sustaining”; calls Tehran’s latest proposal “garbage”Araghchi, meanwhile, said Iran “does not trust the Americans” and accused Washington of turning to diplomacy after failing to achieve its goals through military pressure.“Now, after 40 days of war, when America’s aggression against Iran has no hope of achieving anything, they are offering to negotiate,” he noted. “We don’t trust the Americans. That’s a major obstacle to any diplomatic effort. We have every reason to distrust the Americans, and they have every reason to distrust us.”Araghchi called the ceasefire “very unstable” and insisted Tehran was still trying to maintain it to leave room for diplomacy.“We are now in a ceasefire, although it is unstable. But we are trying to maintain it to give diplomacy a chance,” he stressed. “There is no military solution to anything related to Iran. They have tested us time and time again. We have never succumbed to any pressure or threats. We also resist any sanctions. The Iranian people respond only with the language of respect,” he added.The war in the Middle East began on February 28 when the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran. The two sides subsequently held high-stakes talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11 and 12, but failed to achieve a breakthrough.

Former CIA analyst makes explosive remarks, Gen. Dan Cain ‘shoots down’ proposal

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“特朗普考虑对伊朗进行核打击”:前中央情报局分析师提出爆炸性主张,丹·凯恩将军“否决”了提议

General Dan Cain and Donald Trump

Former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst Larry Johnson claims that US President Donald Trump considered using the nuclear option against Iran but abandoned it after Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kaine responded with a firm “no”.“Trump was very interesting and asked about the use of nuclear weapons. To his credit, General Kaine said very firmly, ‘Absolutely not’. So there was a discussion around the use of nuclear weapons,” Johnson told ANI.He further claimed that after Kaine objected, Trump publicly stated that he would not use nuclear weapons.“It (the nuclear proposal) was vetoed by General Kaine, which is why Donald Trump later came out at the conference and admitted, no, no, no, we will never use nuclear weapons. OK Taking that out of the equation… Later, we got confirmation that the question of the use of nuclear weapons had arisen. We discussed it and were shot down by General Kane,” he added.When explaining the chain of command, Johnson pointed out that Trump, as commander in chief, can order the use of nuclear weapons, but the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is not a formal member of the operational command chain.“It’s not so much a veto but more the role of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. By law, he (Kaine) is the senior military adviser to the president. Now, the chain of command for the use of nuclear weapons is that if Trump orders it, then it goes to the general in charge of what’s called Strategic Command,” the former CIA analyst explained. “He (Trump) will now go through the secretary of defense, or the secretary of war (Pete Hegseth), and then from the secretary of war to the general who commands Strategic Command. Strategic Command will be responsible for executing this mission. “However, Johnson argued that such a decision could lead to Kane resigning in protest if his advice was ignored.“And, you know, what that means is, if Trump does try to move on or anything like that, you could see Chairman Kaine possibly resigning. You just say, no, this is beyond the line. This is unacceptable. This is a real military consideration. General Kaine is not expressing a political view,” he said.Trump’s April 7 post on The Truth Society raised concerns that the United States might take nuclear action against Iran.“An entire civilization will die tonight and never rise again. I don’t want that to happen, but it might happen,” the Republican leader wrote on his social media platform.However, the next day he announced that the ceasefire would continue. The war in the Middle East began on February 28 when the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran.The United States remains the only country to use nuclear weapons in war, dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945 during World War II.