This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.<br />On today’s edition of The Briefing, I discuss Putin’s new signal about Ukraine, who is the Supreme Leader in Iran, the Hantavirus, and one man who was trampled by elephants and another who was eaten by a crocodile.<br />Part I (00:14 &#8211; 10:19)<br />Putin Sends a New Signal: Is the Conflict in Ukraine Coming to an End? Clearly, Putin Is Running Out of Time, and Russians Know It<br /><ul><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8p4j2jzwwo">Putin says he thinks Ukraine conflict &#8216;coming to an end&#8217;</a> by BBC News (Claire Keenan)</li><li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/vladimir-putin-the-man-who-broke-russia-87926ad2?mod=author_content_page_1_pos_1">Vladimir Putin, the Man Who Broke Russia</a> by The Wall Street Journal (Walter Russel Mead)</li><li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/putins-strongman-image-is-fading-as-ukraine-brings-war-home-to-russia-985ec454">Putin’s Strongman Image Is Fading as Ukraine Brings War Home to Russia</a> by The Wall Street Journal (Yaroslav Trofimov)</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/world/europe/russia-ukraine-war-death-toll.html">Russia Has Lost More Than 350,000 Soldiers, New Estimate Finds</a> by The New York Times (Paul Sonne)</li></ul>Part II (10:19 &#8211; 18:42)<br />Who is Really in Control in Iran? It is Not Clear That the Supreme Leader is Really Supreme, Or Even Functional<br /><ul><li><a href="https://www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/real-war-irans-future-islamic-republic">The Real War for Iran’s Future: Who Will Determine the Fate of the Islamic Republic?</a> by Foreign Affairs (Afshon Ostovar)</li></ul>Part III (18:42 &#8211; 25:16)<br />Another Deadly Virus? The Hantavirus is Dangerous and Deadly – But Public Health Officials Say This is Not Like Covid<br />Part IV (25:16 &#8211; 27:53)<br />Trampled by Elephants, Eaten by a Crocodile, Oh My – The Fallen World is a Dangerous Place<br /><ul><li><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/24/millionaire-game-hunter-trampled-to-death-elephants-gabon/">Big game hunter trampled to death by elephants</a> by The Telegraph (Ben Farmer)</li><li><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/south-african-police-airlift-massive-crocodile-suspected-eating-missing-local">South African police airlift massive crocodile suspected of eating missing local</a> by Fox News (Bonny Chu)</li></ul><a href="https://albertmohler.com/subscribe">Sign up</a> to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.<br />Follow Dr. Mohler:<br /><a href="https://twitter.com/albertmohler">X</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/albertmohler/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlbertMohlerSBTS">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzH05TIlVgb3fNFMb10LYvg">YouTube</a><br />For more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to <a href="https://sbts.edu">sbts.edu</a>.<br />For more information on Boyce College, just go to <a href="https://boycecollege.com">BoyceCollege.com</a>.<br />To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go <a href="https://albertmohler.com/contact">here</a>.<br />