PICKING THROUGH the rubble of a destroyed girls school in Iran (Wikipedia).

The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week cease ceasefire.

According to the Associated Press the Supreme National Security Council has agreed to the pause in combat and would begin to negotiate, but, “This does not signify the termination of the war.”

President Donald Trump has withdrawn his threats to intensify the attack on Iran. He had targeted bridges, power plants and other civilian targets in Iran, promising “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

The ceasefire was preceded by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on Tuesday morning.

In reaction to the events, oil prices dropped and U.S. stock futures rose. Iran’s foreign minister said that passage through the Straight of Hormuz will be allowed during the cease-fire, but under the management of the Iranian military.

Return leg of moon flyby

The mission of Artemis II, having passed over the far side of the moon, is now on its return phase to bring the four astronauts – three Americans and one Canadian – back to earth.

THE ARTEMIS spacecraft (NASA).

According to The New York Times, the pull of Earth’s gravity has begun pulling the spacecraft and will bring it down for a Pacific Ocean splashdown on Friday.

Notable in the mission on Tuesday were phone conversations between the crew of the Artemis mission and those on the International Space Station, orbiting Earth about 250 miles above our planet.

But it wasn’t quite the same as a call on your iPhone. There was a 2.5-second gap in conversation. Topics in their conversation included how crowded the Orion capsule was, and the sight of meteors striking the moon.

Republican wins Georgia runoff

Republican Clay Fuller is projected to defeat Democrat Shawn Harris in a runoff for the seat in the House of Representatives vacated by Marjorie Taylor Greene.

According to USA Today, Fuller is polling 55 percent to 44 percent in the Georgia district, thus denying Democrats the chance to further narrow the slim Republican edge in the House.

However, Fuller’s place in the House is only guaranteed until November when the seat will be contested in the general election.

The 14th District has long been a safe Republican district but Harris’ loss to Fuller was smaller than the 2024 outcome.

Weather: Play it cooler …

A cooling trend is on its way for our West Orange County cities. The forecast for Wednesday is for a daytime high of 78 with an overnight low of 59 under partly cloudy skies. Thursday should cool slightly to 76 (50) with mostly cloudy conditions. Friday goes to 73 (58) with partly cloudy conditions. Saturday drops further to 67 (56) with thundershowers predicted.

Great Thoughts:

“Peace begins with a smile.”
– Mother Theresa

‘Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”
– Albery Einstein

“Gentlemen may cry, peace! Peace! But there is no peace.”
– Patrick Henry.