Papal head in the Renaissance, 1513–1521
The Vatican Museums have launched a five-year, $5.5 million restoration project for the Raphael Loggia, a pinnacle of Renaissance figurative art. The effort, supported by the World Monuments Fund and funded by the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation, will use laser cleaning and new sun-filtering glass as part of a broader preservation plan.
Since late July, US and Iranian forces have resumed strikes across the Middle East after a brief pause. The US and Saudi Arabia have carried out airstrikes on pro‑Iran militias in Iraq; Iran has launched ballistic missiles and drones at US forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; regional actors including the Houthis are expanding pressure on Red Sea routes. Diplomatic talks remain fragmented.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have intensified as US and Iranian strikes resume, targeting military and shipping assets across Iran, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. Iran claims attacks on US bases and allied facilities; CENTCOM reports strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping. Oil markets react to the disruption.