Originally published at: Kuwait Desalination Attacked, Hegseth Unveils ‘Greater North America’ Map, Private Credit Pressures Mount – Peak Prosperity
Iran War
Iran reportedly launched attacks on Kuwait’s Doha West Power and Water Desalination Station, killing an Indian worker and causing damage, as Kuwait relies on desalination for 90 percent of drinking water. The strike followed coalition hits on Iran’s Haftkel water reservoir. Kuwait faced 14 ballistic missiles and 12 drones in 24 hours, also striking a military base, injuring 10 personnel, and damaging a warehouse. Over 400 Gulf plants produce 40 percent of global desalinated water, with 90 percent from 56 key sites. Iran denied responsibility for the desalination strike, attributing it to an Israeli false flag operation.
President Trump is considering a military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of Iran’s uranium, mainly at Isfahan and Natanz sites hit by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes last June. U.S. officials stated no decision has been made, with Trump weighing risks to troops while open to the idea to prevent nuclear weapon development. He encouraged advisers to press Iran to surrender the material for war-ending talks, with intermediaries like Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt involved, but no direct negotiations. Extraction would reportedly involve special operations teams securing sites and handling 40 to 50 cylinders in transport casks, potentially taking days amid missile and drone threats. Past U.S. operations removed uranium peacefully from Kazakhstan in 1994 and Georgia in 1998. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted options exist, including positioning 10,000 more troops and quick-response units. Trump stated Iran must comply or face consequences, including giving up the uranium. Critics have warned the operation could be reckless, risking U.S. lives and prolonging the conflict.
Meanwhile, representatives from 30 countries plan discussions on forming a coalition, excluding the United States, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In other news related to the war, Israeli police prevented Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Custos of the Holy Land Fr. Francesco Ielpo from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday morning to celebrate Mass. The church leaders proceeded privately without a public procession but were stopped and turned back. The Latin Patriarchate and Custody of the Holy Land described the action as a first in centuries and a disregard of the Status Quo, freedom of worship, and Holy Week observances. They stated full compliance with war-related restrictions on public gatherings since the conflict began, including worldwide broadcasts of celebrations, and called the measure unreasonable and disproportionate. Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office stated there was no malicious intent, citing safety concerns amid Old City restrictions, and the Latin Patriarchate confirmed the matter was resolved with limited access allowed by March 30.
Lastly, Mohamad Safa, executive director of Patriotic Vision Association with UN ECOSOC status, suspended his UN duties in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, along with committee memberships. He cited UN seniors serving a powerful lobby, amid refusals to label Gaza events as genocide, Lebanon as war crimes and ethnic cleansing, and the Iran war as illegal under international law without imminent threat. Safa referenced death threats, financial penalties, and censorship after voicing concerns post-October 2023, including a misinformation campaign on Iran’s nuclear threats. He said he has supported UN goals since 2015, but paused until reforms by the Secretary-General. Some observers questioned the credibility of Safa’s claims, noting a lack of concrete evidence for allegations of UN nuclear preparations.
Energy
The Iran war has raised global gasoline and diesel prices, although the increases have varied by country. Emerging markets reported gasoline increases of over 50 percent in the Philippines and nearly 49 percent in Nigeria, with diesel rising more. Advanced economies saw 25 to 30 percent gasoline increases in the U.S. and Canada, and diesel up 40 percent. Europe recorded 17 percent gasoline rises in France and Germany, and diesel up to 30 percent. Asia saw 2.5 to 10 percent gasoline hikes in China, South Korea, and Japan due to price controls. U.S. averages $4.29 per gallon remain below Australia’s $5.47 to $5.91 and Canada’s levels. Western Europe exceeds $7.00, with Germany at $9.07 and Norway with the highest among producers due to taxes. Oil producers like Venezuela, Libya, and Iran offer gas for cents per gallon. Hong Kong leads at $15.37, with high prices in Eastern Asia oil importers and unstable nations like Zimbabwe. Cheap gas prevails in North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Russia, and Algeria at $1.34.
Other Geopolitics
War Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled President Trump’s new strategic map, which they’re calling “Greater North America,” spanning from Greenland to the Gulf of America, Panama Canal, and surrounding countries north of the equator to Ecuador and Guyana. He said nations bordering the North Atlantic or Pacific, separated by the Amazon and Andes, form a shared security perimeter. Hegseth stated the approach enhances U.S. posture northward with partners, strengthens southern partnerships below the equator via burden sharing for South Atlantic, Pacific defense, and infrastructure, akin to World War II quarter-sphere defense. Critics have described the strategy as imperialistic expansionism.
Economy
Private credit, at $1.7 to $2 trillion, faces redemption pressures, with firms like Blackstone’s BCRED seeing $3.8 billion Q1 2026 outflows exceeding 5 percent limits, and Apollo, Blue Owl, and Morgan Stanley gating withdrawals. Inflows have halved from 2025, stress concentrated in software portfolios amid AI concerns, headline defaults at 2 percent, 4 to 5 percent, including distressed exchanges. Gating prevents forced sales, unlike 2008’s liquid markets. Goldman Sachs deems large spillovers unlikely absent recession, oil shocks, and software defaults over 6 percent with recoveries under 40 percent.
U.S. single-family building permits fell 8 percent on a trailing 12-month basis in January, from 7 percent prior, as builders limited unsold inventory due to demand uncertainty. Incentives like mortgage buydowns and upgrades drew fewer buyers, with sales traffic dropping in March from Middle East conflict effects and 40-basis-point mortgage rate jumps. Three-month permits dropped 11 percent year-over-year, led by Colorado down 21 percent, Texas 20 percent, and Nevada 19 percent. Top 50 metro areas saw 15 percent declines, with the sharpest being in Stockton, down 47 percent, Richmond 39 percent, and Cape Coral 36 percent. Home prices rose modestly in February year-over-year per Zillow, up 55 percent since 2019, the strongest in the Midwest and Northeast, like Wisconsin at 5 percent, Sun Belt weak with Florida declines. Winter weather delayed activity in Texas, Florida, Southeast.
Health
Midwestern Doctor released a comprehensive article covering risks linked to common hospital birth interventions, including ultrasound, continuous fetal monitoring, Pitocin, epidurals, episiotomies, forceps, and C-sections. Key concerns include:
- Ultrasound: early studies suggest possible genetic damage, cell death, and malformations; fetuses often move away from it.
- C-section rate: 32.4% in the U.S. (far above WHO’s 10% recommended threshold). Associated with longer recovery, infections, and higher infant risks of respiratory distress, asthma (20-41%), allergies (37%), obesity (11%), ADHD (15-16%), and autism (23-26%).
- Back-lying position narrows the pelvis.
- Continuous monitoring: 66% more C-sections with no mortality benefit.
- High-dose Pitocin: 60% more C-sections.
- Epidurals: fetal depression in 75% of cases, maternal low blood pressure in 36%.
- Episiotomies heal worse than natural tears.
Beneficial practices that are often limited in hospitals include delayed cord clamping (60-100% fewer brain bleeds) and skin-to-skin contact (stabilizes vitals and supports microbiome).
Historically, U.S. maternal deaths peaked in the 1930s as births shifted from midwives to hospital interventions. For low-risk pregnancies, midwife-led home births cost $2.5k–$6k (vs. $13k–$30k in hospitals), and doulas reduce C-sections by 25%. Routine newborn shots (Vitamin K and Hep B) are common even in low-risk cases, though alternatives exist for Vitamin K.
However, healthcare professionals note that even low-risk pregnancies can occasionally need sudden hospital intervention.
Sources
Israeli Police Block Latin Patriarch from Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday
Israeli police stop Latin Patriarch from entering Church of Holy Sepulchre
Source | Submitted by Walberga
UN Rep Mohamad Safa Suspends Duties, Slams Seniors for Serving ‘Powerful Lobby’ on Gaza Genocide
Some UN seniors are serving a powerful lobby and not the UN
Source | Submitted by pnwdefector
30 Countries to Discuss US-Excluded Coalition for Strait of Hormuz
Without the USA: 30 Countries to Discuss Forming a Coalition to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Source | Submitted by HurricaneRider
Trump Weighs Risky Raid to Seize Iran’s Uranium Stockpile
President Trump is weighing a military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran
Source (Paywalled) | Submitted by RandomMike
Gas Prices Around the World: Pennies in Iran, $15 in Hong Kong
Gasoline only costs a couple of cents per gallon
Private Credit: Subprime 2.0 or a Gated Contagion?
So which is it? A repeat of the subprime crisis of 2008, or a painful but contained credit cycle? The honest answer most likely sits somewhere in between.
Homebuilders Pull Back Nationwide on Murky Demand Outlook
Ongoing moderation comes as builders look to limit unsold inventory given limited visibility to demand.
The Perils of Hospital Births: Interventions, History, and Safer Alternatives
Childbirth is one of the most important moments in our life. Unfortunately, it has been medicalized and has shifted from being viewed as a natural life event supported by local midwives to an emergency requiring urgent hospital care.
Source | Submitted by AaronMcKeon
Iran Strikes Water: Desalination Attack Ignites New Front in Gulf Conflict
This is no longer an energy war. It is a water war.
Iran Strikes Kuwait Desalination Plant in Predicted Water-for-Water Retaliation
Water for water.
Pete Hegseth Proclaims Trump’s ‘Greater North America’ Security Map
Pete Hegseth says Donald Trump has drawn a new strategic map from Greenland to the Gulf of America, calling it “Greater North America.”
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem; i24NEWS; Catholic Sat; Maryam Jamshidi; Peter Hegarty; Rapid Response 47; Sky News; Newsmax; Drop Site News; allenanalysis; Khatam al-Anbiya HQ; Nurse Tiff; Tori; Dr. Jill Stein; David Icke.
