WASHINGTON, March 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11548) on March 6, 2026, by foreign affairs analyst Cory R. Gill. Here are excerpts: * * * Assisting and Evacuating U.S. Citizens Abroad During International Crises Congress has mandated that the U.S. Department of State (DOS; the Department) provide consular services to American citizens around the world. Such services include disseminating information regarding any major dis more PR

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, March 7 -- Brown University posted the following Q&A on March 6, 2026, involving Reid Pauly, assistant professor of political science, nuclear security and policy affiliated with the Watson School of International and Public Affairs: * * * A nuclear security scholar's take on recent military actions in Iran In this Q&A, Brown University political scientist and nuclear security expert Reid Pauly shares insights and context on the expanding conflict in the Middle East. more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 [Category: Energy] -- The Institute for Energy Research posted the following commentary: * * * California's High Gas Prices Are About More Than the Conflict in Iran * California Gasoline Prices As the conflict in Iran continues to disrupt the global oil market, California's gas prices rose another 10 cents overnight. According to AAA, on March 6, California's average gasoline price was $4.905 per gallon, while the nation's average was $3.320, making it almost 50% higher more PR

NEW YORK, March 7 -- The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, an organization that defends the right of Catholics to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination, issued the following commentary on March 6, 2026, by President Bill Donohue: * * * IRISH QUEERS EXPLOIT ST. PAT'S PARADE On March 1, Irish queers marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Sunnyside, Queens, and in doing so they made a mockery of the parade's origins. Quite frankly, it's really more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The Center for European Policy Analysis issued the following commentary on March 6, 2026, by Fabian Hoffmann, doctoral research fellow at the Oslo Nuclear Project and non-resident fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security program: * * * The Iran War - Peril and Opportunity for Ukraine Ukraine is the standard bearer of modern conflict. Enemies and allies cannot ignore it, even if they wanted to. * The US-Israeli war against Iran, launched in the early hours of more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The Center for European Policy Analysis issued the following commentary on March 6, 2026, by Fabian Hoffmann, doctoral research fellow at the Oslo Nuclear Project and non-resident fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security program: * * * Iran-U.S. War: A Race to the Bottom Even if the US and Israel succeed in neutering Iran's ballistic missile campaign, there's another threat apparent from long-range drones. * The central military dynamic of the current phase  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following commentary on March 6, 2026, by Shashwat Kumar, fellow with the Chair of the India and Emerging Asia Economics program: * * * Russian Crude and India: Here to Stay Amid Middle East Tensions? For most of 2025, the Trump administration pressured India to curb Russian crude imports. It sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil--Russia's largest oil firms--and imposed a 25 percent punitive tariff on all Indian expo more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on March 6, 2026: * * * Iranian Intelligence Agent Convicted of Terrorism and Murder for Hire in Connection with Foiled Plot to Assassinate U.S. Politicians and Government Officials Today, a federal jury convicted Asif Merchant, also known as "Asif Raza Merchant," of murder for hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries. Merchant was a trained operative of the Irania more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following remarks on March 5, 2026, by Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau at the Raisina Dialogue: * * * Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the Raisina Dialogue DEPUTY SECRETARY LANDAU: Thank you so much. I am deeply honored to be here in India. I want to thank the Observer Research Foundation for inviting me, and of course the Government of India. It is important to have these kinds of dialogues and events, particularl more PR

SANTA BARBARA, California, March 7 -- Direct Relief issued the following statement on March 4, 2026, by Vice President of Communications Tony Morain: * * * Escalating Middle East Conflict Strains Health Systems and Disrupts Humanitarian Supply Routes Over the past year, Direct Relief has delivered more than $100 million in medical aid and grants to healthcare partners across the Middle East and neighboring countries, supporting hospitals and clinics throughout the region. Escalating hostilit more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 [Category: Energy] -- The Institute for Energy Research posted the following commentary: * * * Energy Supplies Under a Prolonged Middle East Conflict * Key Takeaways 1 The conflict with Iran in the Middle East will affect energy prices, but the extent of price hikes will depend on its duration and outcome. 2 The most important chokepoint is the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's supply typically transits. 3 Between two and four million ba more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 [Category: Energy] -- The Institute for Energy Research posted the following commentary: * * * Europe Needs to Refill Gas Storage Facilities, But Limited Supplies and Higher Prices Make That More Difficult * Key Takeaways 1 Europe is facing higher costs to secure natural gas supplies for next winter due to its own depletion and the conflict with Iran. 2 Europe's gas storage levels were below normal when hostilities began. Still, Qatar's inability to move LNG throu more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich Meets with Veteran-Serving Providers, Discusses Impacts of Trump's Rate Cuts for Veterans' Essential Homecare Services * Albuquerque, N.M. -Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) met with veteran-serving health care providers to discuss the impacts of the Trump Administration's cuts to reimbursement rates for essential home health care services for veterans. The rate cuts come a more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, issued the following opening remarks on March 3, 2026, at a hearing to consider the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 7744): * * * Good afternoon, the Committee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. Today, the Rules Committee is convening to consider H.R. 7744, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations A more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Hudson Institute, a research organization that says it promotes leadership for a secure, free and prosperous future, issued the following commentary on March 6, 2026, by senior fellow Luke Coffey to Arab News: * * * Iran Conflict Highlights Growing Importance of Middle Corridor The joint US-Israeli air campaign against Iran is only a week old, yet the geopolitical consequences are already being felt. Fighting in the region has shown how vulnerable much-relied-upon trade more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Hudson Institute, a research organization that says it promotes leadership for a secure, free and prosperous future, issued the following commentary on March 6, 2026, by Miles Yu, senior fellow and director of the China Center, to the Washington Post: * * * China Bet Its Middle East Strategy on Iran. That Bet Has Failed. The Chinese Communist Party's investment in Iran has been monumental. * For more than a decade, Beijing has worked quietly and methodically to turn I more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following commentary on March 6, 2026, by Director Joseph Majkut, non-resident senior adviser Kevin Book, non-resident senior associates Adi Imsirovic, Raad Alkadiri, Leslie Palti-Guzman, Ben Cahill and Sarah Emerson, all of the Energy Security and Climate Change Program: * * * What Does the Iran War Mean for Global Energy Markets? The sudden eruption of war in the Mideast Gulf has created dramatic new risks  more PR

PARIS, France, March 7 -- International Federation for Human Rights issued the following news release on March 6, 2026: * * * Israel expands its offensive against Lebanon by ordering the mass evacuation of residents of Beirut's southern suburbs * On Thursday 5 March 2026, Israel issued an evacuation order for the Southern suburbs of Beirut, raising serious concerns under international humanitarian law. Nearly 700,000 people are directly affected, in addition to those displaced in previous day more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13172) on March 6, 2026. The white paper is written by Middle Eastern affairs specialists Jim Zanotti, Clayton Thomas and Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Iranian Kurds and Possible Support Following U.S. and Israeli military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran that commenced on February 28, 2026, press reports citing unnamed sources have stated  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan Votes Against President Trump's Illegal War Against Iran * Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after voting for a bipartisan War Powers Resolution that blocks the use of the U.S. Armed Forces from engaging in hostilities against Iran unless authorized by Congress: "With no accountability and in defiance of the American people, President T more PR

NEW YORK, March 7 -- Physicians for Human Rights issued the following news release: * * * PHR Demands Protection for Medical Workers and Facilities Amid Middle East Escalation All parties are obliged to respect the sanctity of healthcare during conflict * As the military conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States escalates and spreads across the Middle East, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) calls on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law and international huma more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Andrea Salinas' Statement Following the War Powers Vote * Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) issued the following statement following her vote in favor of the bipartisan war powers resolution that would require President Trump to seek congressional approval for any further action in Iran. "I voted yes on the bipartisan war powers resolution to reassert Congre more PR

WESTPORT, Connecticut, March 4 -- Save the Children, an organization that says it is giving children a healthy start in life, opportunity to learn and protection from harm, posted the following news release: * * * More Than 100 Million Children Living in Middle East Region Impacted by Conflict AMMAN - Over 100 million children living in countries impacted by the escalating violence in the Middle East and wider region face deepening fear, distress and the risk of physical harm and displacement more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Marshall: Democrats Are Putting Politics Ahead of the Safety of Your Family * Senator Marshall Joins Fox News Live to Discuss the Democrat Shutdown Washington - U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Aishah Hasnie on Fox News to discuss the real dangers facing Americans because of the Democrat shutdown of DHS. Click HERE or on the image above for Senator Marshall's full in more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13174) on March 6, 2026, by financial economics analyst Paul Tierno and macroeconomic policy specialist Marc Labonte. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Military Operations Against Iran's Missile and Nuclear Programs In July 2025, Congress passed the GENIUS Act (P.L. 119-27) establishing a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins. These digital assets use the same technology as more PR

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, March 7 -- The University of Michigan issued the following Q&A on March 6, 2026, involving sociocultural anthropologist Jatin Dua: * * * The new masters of war: Insurance companies The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow strip of sea between Iran and the Omani Musandam Peninsula, will be a major factor in determining the direction of the conflict between the United States and Iran, according to a University of Michigan researcher. Jatin Dua is a sociocultural anthropologist whose more PR