[00:00] Noah Feldman: This is Neural Newscast for Wednesday, March 18th, 2026.
[00:07] Isabel Moreno: Here is what matters this morning.
[00:09] Noah Feldman: From Neural Newscast, I'm Noah Feldman.
[00:13] Isabel Moreno: And I'm Isabel Moreno.
[00:15] Noah Feldman: Israel says it has killed Ali Larajani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
[00:23] Noah Feldman: The targeted overnight airstrike took place in Tehran.
[00:28] Noah Feldman: Larijani was a veteran advisor to the late Supreme Leader.
[00:33] Noah Feldman: He was widely considered a key figure for potential international negotiations.
[00:39] Isabel Moreno: The strike also killed Ghulam Reza Soleimani.
[00:43] Isabel Moreno: He was the commander of Iran's paramilitary Bazeesh forces.
[00:48] Isabel Moreno: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the military operation.
[00:53] Isabel Moreno: He described it as a continued effort to eliminate the core leadership of the Iranian regime during this 18-day war.
[01:01] Noah Feldman: In Washington, the conflict has led to the first high-profile resignation within the Trump administration.
[01:09] Noah Feldman: National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent quit his post yesterday.
[01:15] Noah Feldman: He stated he cannot support a war he believes was started without an imminent threat to the United States.
[01:23] Isabel Moreno: The geopolitical strain is also visible in NATO.
[01:28] Isabel Moreno: European allies have rebuffed President Trump's request for help securing the Strait of Hormuz.
[01:34] Isabel Moreno: Leaders from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France have signaled they will not be drawn into the wider regional conflict.
[01:41] Noah Feldman: Turning now to Los Angeles, the 98th Academy Awards concluded with Paul Thomas Anderson's one battle after another, taking home six Oscars.
[01:51] Noah Feldman: Anderson secured the Best Director Trophy.
[01:54] Noah Feldman: Jesse Buckley and Michael B. Jordan won the top acting honors for the evening.
[01:59] Isabel Moreno: The film Sinners also made history.
[02:02] Isabel Moreno: It entered the night with a record-breaking 16 nominations.
[02:06] Isabel Moreno: Although it only won four awards, the Rhine-Kugler feature was celebrated as a major tribute to black artistry and blues culture.
[02:15] Noah Feldman: The Academy highlighted international perspectives through the nomination of the voice of Hind Rajab.
[02:22] Noah Feldman: This docudrama follows the final hours of a five-year-old girl in Gaza.
[02:26] Noah Feldman: It marks a significant moment for Arab cinema on the global stage.
[02:31] Isabel Moreno: The ceremony also served as a milestone for the broadcast itself,
[02:35] Isabel Moreno: The Academy has announced that starting in 2029,
[02:39] Isabel Moreno: the Oscars will end its 50-year relationship with ABC.
[02:43] Isabel Moreno: The show will move exclusively to YouTube for streaming.
[02:47] Noah Feldman: In other news, the film world is mourning the loss of actor Robert Duvall.
[02:53] Noah Feldman: He has died at the age of 95.
[02:56] Noah Feldman: Duvall was an Oscar winner known for his iconic performances
[02:59] Noah Feldman: in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now.
[03:03] Isabel Moreno: Next, here's what else we are watching.
[03:05] Isabel Moreno: We are tracking global energy markets as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt shipping and fuel prices worldwide.
[03:14] Noah Feldman: We are also monitoring the humanitarian situation in Lebanon.
[03:18] Noah Feldman: Israeli forces have issued fresh evacuation orders for residents in the village of Arab al-Jal,
[03:25] Noah Feldman: ahead of imminent strikes on infrastructure targets.
[03:28] Isabel Moreno: Finally, we are looking for a response from the Kremlin regarding the escalation of strikes in Tehran.
[03:35] Isabel Moreno: International observers are waiting to see if Russia will intervene diplomatically
[03:40] Isabel Moreno: as the death toll in the region rises.
[03:43] Noah Feldman: Tomorrow, we will look at how the shift to digital streaming
[03:47] Noah Feldman: is changing the financial landscape of major Hollywood awards shows.
[03:51] Noah Feldman: I'm Noah Feldman.
[03:52] Isabel Moreno: And I'm Isabel Moreno.
[03:54] Isabel Moreno: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, Human Reviewed.
[03:59] Isabel Moreno: View our AI Transparency Policy at NeuralNewscast.com.
[04:04] Isabel Moreno: Thanks for listening.