Did Iranian state TV say, ‘Tonight, a great surprise will occur, one that the world will remember for centuries’?
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Mystery flights of Chinese 747 airfreighters to Iran and more
China is Iran’s biggest oil customer, taking in two million barrels of oil a day. Oil prices have gone up $10 a barrel on the open market since Israel’s attack on Iran. Iran’s only functional nuclear power plant at Bushehr is closer to Arab capitals than to Tehran. Shipping companies are being advised to stay close to Oman and UAE and avoid Iran territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz. If Iran closes it off, it becomes a big problem for all, but mostly for China, as China takes 90% of Iran’s oil production. The U.S. Nimitz aircraft carrier and its strike force are joining the fight against Iran’s nuclear program. Iran has been posting a lot of artwork on Very X, but he has not made any threats. Iran did extensive military maneuvers in January and talked about new weapons, but they were not revealing what they were without revealing what was on those planes. The guessing game is on as to what was in the air shipments is also a mystery.
The flight plans showed Luxembourg as the destination. The USA has the C-17 and the huge C-5A to transport military assets. Other countries use the 747 airfreighters to do the same. So the guessing game is on as to what was on those planes. My guess would be electronics and missile parts.
The 747 cargo planes used were from Cargolux, based in Luxembourg. Cargolux did not respond to questions about what those planes flying out of China were carrying.
Why would China get involved with this? China is Iran’s biggest oil customer, taking in two million barrels of oil a day. Prices have gone up $10 a barrel on the open market since Israel’s attack on Iran.
China has supplied Iran missile components and at the end of January sent two container ships full of rocket fuel to Iran. On April 26th, it appears that the whole shipment blew up in the port of Bandar Abbas. Killed 57 people, blew out windows a mile away, was felt 30 miles away, and incinerated 10,000 shipping containers. Why it was still there after three months is another mystery. Or an exercise in stupidity.
What was in the air shipments is also a mystery, but you could make a safe bet it had to be war materials of some sort that needed to get there fast, or they didn’t want a ship to be stopped for an inspection somewhere on the shipping path.
In May, the US sanctioned a number of Chinese companies helping Iran’s ballistic missile program.
Just before the Israeli attack, Iran had ordered up double the amount of the rocket fuel that blew up in Bandar Abbas. This may have been another factor in Israel deciding to attack when they did.
Iran mined the Strait of Hormuz in 1987 and 1988, and it might do so, or is doing so now. Shipping companies are being advised to stay close to Oman and UAE and avoid Iran territorial waters in the 20-mile gap of the strait at its narrowest point.
Strait of Hormuz with shipping lanes.
Shipping insurance rates are going up, and tankers carrying 2 million barrels of oil are now making $50,000 a day instead of $20,000 before Israel’s attack.
Simplified map with arrow for Strait of Hormuz.
Ships are sometimes navigating blind with GPS jamming and AIS, Automatic Identification System, spoofing going on. It probably was the cause of two oil tankers colliding just days ago. 3,000 ships a month go through the Strait of Hormuz every month. A fifth of the world’s oil, a third of the natural gas, and ships with all kinds of other cargo go through the strait. If Iran closes it off, it becomes a big problem for all, but mostly for China, as China takes 90% of Iran’s oil production.
This electronic jamming is already a hazard to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz because of the narrow point.
Arab states are worrying about nuclear materials becoming airborne to their countries if nuclear facilities with the uranium are hit. So far there are no reports of contamination from facilities that have been hit by Israel. That changes if the US hits the Iranian Fordo underground facility with those 30,000 lb GRU-57A/B bombs. Iran’s only functional nuclear power plant at Bushehr is closer to Arab capitals than to Tehran. Shades of Chernobyl if it was hit. Nations with 60 million people nearby depend on water processed by desalination. If Bushehr was hit, that all goes away. Same with fishing. The Qatari Prime Minister said they would run out of water in three days. They have no rivers.
Those US refueling tankers are headed to the Middle East, with F-16, F-22 and F-35 jets dragging, meaning getting refueled in flight to travel beyond their normal range.
The U.S.S. Nimitz aircraft carrier and its strike force are joining the U.S.S. Carl Vinson and its strike force add to the firepower. They could wipe out the Iranian Navy, which has left Bandar Abbas, but anchored not far away and too close together.
Iran did extensive military maneuvers in January and talked about new weapons, without revealing what they were.
There is a good variety of Iranian missiles. How much of each they have, or have left, is another question.
The Ayatollah has been posting a lot on X. Very good artwork, but he’s not making any headway with this bluff.
He almost sounds like that old margarine commercial, “It isn’t wise to fool Mother Nature!” Actually it was “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature,” but you get the idea.
He is right that they were in negotiations with the US, but they hadn’t done it in the 60 days Trump gave them to make a deal. Now Trump feels justified in whatever he does. First he says they waited too long, then he says he would talk to them, then he says they’re too late, like “Too Late” Jerome Powell. He did say that while the new White House flagpoles were going up. It’s TACO time again.
Iranian drone facilities may have been targeted by Israel along with other military and nuclear sites. No matter what, shipments of them to Russia have most likely stopped. Whatever Iran has they need to use themselves.
Whatever Iranian state TV meant yesterday when they warned of ” a surprise tonight that the world will remember for centuries,” didn’t happen.
Only Congress has the power to declare war, but that may not stop Trump. He does as he damn well pleases. There are bills in the House and the Senate right now that specifically say Trump cannot declare war with Iran. But House and Senate Committees are too busy playing games to get to them. One of them is a privileged resolution so it means they have to vote on it, if they ever get to it.
If it happens, it’s Donald’s war. Nobody else’s. Even Marjorie Taylor Greene says so.
And to give it a proper ending, because Trump is an avid reader of it with writing that is simple:
Cheap housing, tricky reputation: This is one of the best California cities for retirees
Richmond, California, named one of California’s best places for retirees. The city’s median home price is $620,000, below the state median of $739,333. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 18% of the population, one of the highest rates of the state. Richmond’s shipbuilding industry, led by Kaiser Shipyards, was pivotal to the U.S. World War II legacy continues in the city, which is home to multiple historic sites and a waterfront destination. The Chevron refinery, which employs about 3,000 workers, recently agreed to pay $20 million to settle fines with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
Richmond, with its median home sale price of $620,000, is below the state median of $739,333, per Zillow data, and has a strong senior community, according to the report by Retirement Living, where seniors aged 65 and over make up 18% of the population, one of the highest rates of the state.
“More seniors mean better access to age-friendly services, social programs, and healthcare tailored to older adults,” reads the report.
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Study authors concede that Richmond does have a 10.8% senior poverty rate and a 9.75% sales tax, one of the steepest in California, but many retirees remain in the city nevertheless.
City steeped in the history of WWII
The city of Richmond in the San Francisco Bay Area experienced a population boom during WWII, when it grew from less than 24,000 people in 1940 to nearly 100,000 people by 1943, according to the National Park Service, when it was home to over 56 different war industries, more than any other city of its size in the country.
Richmond’s shipbuilding industry, led by Kaiser Shipyards, was pivotal to the war effort—the city’s four shipyards produced 747 ships, more than any other complex in the United States.
The shipyards hired a diverse workforce and offered competitive wages, benefits, and a comprehensive healthcare system that would come to be known as Kaiser Permanente.
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In honor of this legacy, the city is home to multiple World War II attractions.
The Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park commemorates the work of American civilians at home during the war and includes preserved historic sites like the Ford Assembly Plant and Shipyard No. 3. There is also the SS Red Oak Victory, a restored WWII ship that now functions as a museum in the Port of Richmond.
Once the site of the Richmond Shipyards, Marina Bay is a waterfront destination with parks and walking trails, a popular site for boating and fishing. Point Richmond is a historic district with shops, restaurants, and galleries.
Post-war years tough transition
During the post-war years, the city struggled to recoup the job losses suffered by the end of the shipbuilding industry and was subsequently plagued by drug use, rising crime rates, and pollution from the local oil refining industry.
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The Chevron refinery, which employs about 3,000 workers, recently agreed to pay $20 million to settle fines with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for 678 outstanding violations, according to reporting by Richmond Confidential.
These are Retirement Living’s top ten cities for retirees in California
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This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Richmond named one of the best cities to retire to in California
Putin says he can ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways: What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below or post a video on CNN iReport.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he told both Israel and the United States he could ensure Iran uses nuclear energy only for peaceful purposes, thereby alleviating Israel’s fear of a nuclear-armed Iran.
Speaking to representatives of major news agencies in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Putin described his suggestion as a “possible way out,” but noted that the decision ultimately lies with Israel and Iran.
Putin dismissed concerns about the potential overthrow of Iran’s leadership due to Israeli airstrikes. Russia is an ally of Iran.
“Society rallies around the political leadership,” he said during the meeting, held on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) attends a meeting with heads of international news agencies, on the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) at the Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory. -/Kremlin/dpa
Unpacking rumor Iranian state TV said, ‘Tonight, a great surprise will occur, one that the world will remember for centuries’
A rumor circulated online in mid-June 2025 claiming Iranian state TV announced, “Tonight, a great surprise will occur, one that the world will remember for centuries” The rumor possibly originated from an X post appearing on the account Tehran Updates (@TehranDefence) in the U.S. morning hours of June 17. Snopes contacted Iran’s ministry of foreign affairs by email to ask whether Iran state TV made the alleged announcement. We have not definitively established the truth about this matter. The existence of this X post indicated the rumor Iranian stateTV made the announcement was likely false. The rumor circulated amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Iran and Israel attacking each other with missile strikes. On June 18, the AP reported Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected U.s. calls for surrender, and warned any U.N. military involvement would cause “irreparable damage” to them.
For example, on June 17, an X user posted (archived), “BREAKING: Iranian State TV has said: ‘Tonight, a great surprise will occur, one that the world will remember for centuries.'” The post received 12.4 million views, as of this writing.
(@unusual_whales/X)
Numerous other users also shared this claim, including on Bluesky (archived), Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived), Reddit (archived), TikTok (archived), X (archived) and YouTube (archived). Newsweek, The Gateway Pundit and the Arabic-language website Asharq News (archived), as well as the British tabloids The Daily Mail and The Mirror, reported this news as fact as well.
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However, searches of the wire services Agence France-Presse, The Associated Press and Reuters found no reports about this matter. Had Iranian state TV made such an announcement, news media outlets worldwide would have reported it as major breaking news. Very few outlets reported the alleged quote, and those that did provided no video or other evidence to support their claims.
This rumor possibly originated from an X post appearing on the account Tehran Updates (@TehranDefence) in the U.S. morning hours of June 17. The account displays a bio reading: “Live War updates / This account is not affiliated with any Government entity.” According to a search of X, the post featured the earliest record of the text, “Tonight there will be a big surprise and the world will remember it for centuries.”
The existence of this X post indicated the rumor Iranian state TV made the announcement was likely false. However, Snopes did not attach a fact-check rating to this story because we have not definitively established the truth about this matter.
(@TehranDefence/X)
Snopes contacted Iran’s ministry of foreign affairs by email to ask whether Iranian state TV made the alleged announcement, and will update this story if we learn more information.
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Users shared this matter amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Iran and Israel attacking each other with missile strikes. On June 18, the AP reported Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected U.S. calls for surrender, and warned any U.S. military involvement would cause “irreparable damage” to them.
The AP also said an Israeli airstrike hit an Iranian state TV studio during a live broadcast. The reporting features a video of the moment of impact.
For further reading on the subject of state TV broadcasts, another fact check examined the true claim that Russian state TV aired n*de photos of U.S. first lady Melania Trump shortly after the 2024 election.
Sources:
Barnes, Julian E., et al. “Iran Is Preparing Missiles for Possible Retaliatory Strikes on U.S. Bases, Officials Say.” The New York Times, 17 June 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/us/politics/iran-israel-us-bases.html.
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Gambrell, Jon, et al. “Israel Strikes Iran’s Nuclear Sites and Kills Top Generals. Iran Retaliates with Missile Barrages.” The Associated Press, 13 June 2025, https://apnews.com/article/iran-explosions-israel-tehran-00234a06e5128a8aceb406b140297299.
“Israeli Strike on Iranian State TV Fills Studio with Dust and Debris during Live Broadcast.” The Associated Press, 16 June 2025, https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-irib-state-tv-air-strike-9ab46d05baeb354a6596bd09aa12a2d6.
“Live Updates: Iranian Leader Warns US That Intervening Would Cause ‘Irreparable Damage.'” The Associated Press, 18 June 2025, https://apnews.com/live/israel-iran-attack-conflict-updates.
Bangkok’s Pride Is One of the Largest in Asia—and It’s Attracting LGBTQIA+ Travelers From Around the World
Thailand legalized gay marriage in January 2025, making it the first South Asian country to do so. This year’s Bangkok Pride Festival had about 300,000 guests, an increase from 250,000 attendees in 2024. Bangkok isn’t home to the largest celebration in the world, but it might be the biggest in Asia. For locals, the growth in international popularity of Bangkok Pride has been a net-positive. The country is positioning itself as a global hub for LGBTQIA+ travel and a future host of World Pride in 2030, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s New York office said in a statement. It is not just people from other Asian countries who are coming to Thailand for the big celebration and welcoming environment. In the past, celebrations might have been exclusively attended by people in the LGBTQIA+. community, the festivities now draw in more straight allies during the shows at Lost & Found, a speakeasy with a diverse clientele ranging from a mix of tourists and locals looking to enjoy the steampunk design and craft cocktails.
Key Takeaway
Thailand, Travel + Leisure’s 2025 Destination of the Year, legalized gay marriage in January 2025, making it the first South Asian country to do so. Now, tourists from all over the world are heading to Thailand for the country’s month-long Pride celebrations.
Bangkok was hot for its pride festival. The humid wind meant that makeup ran, clothing clung to dampened skin, and the large crowds didn’t find much relief in the shade. But it didn’t slow down the exuberance. From marching bands and floats, flags, and signs, the Bangkok Pride Festival was a party from beginning to end.
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In the crowd, amongst hundreds of thousands of Thai citizens, there were also attendees from all over the world. One young man, Bo Han, attended the festival for the first time after living in Thailand for three years. “I’m originally from Myanmar,” he told Travel + Leisure. “My country is very traditional, conservative. Here it is very open, and I feel like myself here.”
This year’s Bangkok Pride Festival had about 300,000 guests, an increase from 250,000 attendees in 2024. By comparison, the world’s largest pride festivals, including in São Paulo, New York, Toronto, and Madrid, all have over one million attendees. So Bangkok isn’t home to the largest celebration in the world, but it might be the biggest in Asia, outpacing Taiwan’s record of 180,000 attendees in 2024.
“This surge in attendance highlights Bangkok’s rising status as a leading LGBTQIA+ destination in Asia,” Chompu Marusachot, the director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s New York office. “Government support has played a key role, with the Thai administration integrating Pride Month into its national tourism strategy. These efforts are part of Thailand’s broader goal of positioning itself as a global hub for LGBTQIA+ travel and a future host of World Pride in 2030.”
This commitment is helping draw attendees from across the continent. But it is not just people from other Asian countries who are coming to Thailand for the big celebration and welcoming environment. Syd and Jamie, an American couple in their 20s, moved to Bangkok in May. After a wave of anti-LGTBTQIA policies were introduced and passed, both women were feeling less welcome in the country. “America is dangerous,” Syd said, standing on one of the giant Pride flags rolled out in the plaza where the parade ended. “At least, that’s one of the reasons for me.”
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They were eager to join the lesbian scene in the city, which is how they found out about the Pride Festival—it had been posted on the Les Hi Bar Instagram account, one of the most popular lesbian bars in Bangkok. The internet is generally helping to push Pride events to broader audiences in the country. Overall, the U.S. market is most engaged with GoThaiBeFree.com, a LGBTQIA+ travel planning site, accounting for 26 percent of the site traffic, while visitors from China, Germany, and the United Kingdom each account for about 10 percent of the traffic.
For locals, the growth in international popularity of Bangkok Pride has been a net-positive. Zymone, a trans woman born and raised in Bangkok, is a singer, performer, and contestant of season five of The Voice Thailand. She has seen an increasing amount of cultural acceptance and celebration over time, both within Thailand and from tourists.
Zymone hosts a drag show at Lost & Found, a speakeasy with a diverse clientele ranging from a mix of tourists wandering in from the hotel and locals looking to enjoy the steampunk design and craft cocktails. In the past, celebrations might have been exclusively attended by people in the LGBTQIA+ community, the festivities now draw in more straight allies as well. That can be seen during the shows at Lost & Found: according to Zymone, a recent crowd included a mother and son, a straight couple from the UK, and a straight couple from France.
“Some of them are not gay, but they show up to support and have fun,” Zymone said. “We are art. Every year it’s bigger and bigger, it’s not just a place to come out and say ‘we are a couple,’ we come out as art … when people come for Pride Month, it actually makes it more special. The world is better when we are actually showing people who we are.”
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Thailand’s LGBTQIA+ centered offerings aren’t just contained to one city: Pride events are held in every region of the country throughout June. From a film festival in Krabi to parades in Phuket and Pattaya, you’re bound to a few celebrations no matter where you go in the country.
Even before the law was officially changed on Jan. 23, 2025 to finally allow LGBTQIA+ couples to legally marry, Thailand has been a popular destination for LGBTQIA+ travelers. This year, Phuket is one of the top locations according to an Expedia survey.
The international reputation for Thailand being ultra-welcoming and accepting hasn’t happened by accident. There’s been a concerted push from the government and tourism board to message these developments to the global public. LGBTQIA+ travel is projected to bring the country an anticipated four million additional tourists each year, $2 billion in generated revenue, 152,000 full-time jobs, and a 0.3 percent increase in Thailand’s GDP, according to the tourism authority.
“Anecdotal insights from hotel and private sector partners suggest a significant increase in LGBTQIA+ travelers attending events throughout the year, underscoring that Pride celebrations nationwide are a strong driver of tourism,” Marusachot said. “The legalization of same-sex marriage in Thailand, effective January 2025, is expected to strengthen further the country’s appeal as an LGBTQIA+ travel destination.”
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Going forward, there will only be a bigger push to bring more LGBTQIA+ travelers to the country with more programming that will “reinforce the country’s reputation as a welcoming, inclusive destination,” said Marusachot. “Thailand has long positioned itself as a place that celebrates people for who they are, how they identify, and who they love.”
Zymone, who performs at festivals and MCs events across Bangkok, is hoping the increased popularity—and investment from the government and the public sector—will result in year-round celebrations of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“After this, it’s not going to be just Pride Month,” she says. “It’s going to be every month, and everybody can hang out.”
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure