Quote:The Supreme Court issued an emergency order on Friday night, temporarily blocking full payments of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.

Why It Matters

The fate of SNAP has become a critical and ongoing flashpoint in the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, with nearly 42 million Americans depending on the assistance to eat, some of whom already faced interruptions in food assistance due to the program's funding being in limbo.

What To Know

According to the Associated Press, the High Court granted the Trump Administration's request to appeal a previous ruling that would require SNAP to be fully funded amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The order written by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson says in part, "The applicants assert that, without intervention from this
Court, they will have to 'transfer an estimated $4 billion by tonight' to fund SNAP benefits through November."

"Given the First Circuit’s representations, an administrative stay is required to facilitate the First Circuit’s expeditious resolution of the pending stay motion," Justice Jackson wrote. The order now blocks a previous ruling by a Rhode Island judge that required the payments to be paid out by Friday night, NBC News notes.

What People Are Saying

New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul on X earlier on Friday before the Supreme Court order: "I've just directed state agencies to fully fund federal SNAP benefits for November. President Trump's actions have been senseless and un-American. I'll never stop fighting for New York's families."

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom on X on Friday before the order: "Donald Trump is now going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to take SNAP food benefits away from Americans in need. California won't back down in court from supporting the tens of millions of Americans the Trump Administration seemingly wants to starve."

Trump on Truth Social on Tuesday: "SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office (Due to the fact that they were haphazardly 'handed' to anyone for the asking, as opposed to just those in need, which is the purpose of SNAP!), will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT"

Quote:A federal judge on Friday ruled that the Trump administration’s attempt to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, was unconstitutional.

On Sunday, US District Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, temporarily extended an order blocking the administration from deploying troops to The Rose City, saying the government failed to justify the move.

In the Sunday evening order, Immergut temporarily blocked “Defendant Secretary of Defense [Pete] Hegseth from implementing” memorandums that authorized the federalization and deployment of National Guard members from Oregon, Texas and California into Portland.

The injunction remained in effect until Friday.

Friday’s 106-page ruling makes the order permanent.

It followed a three-day trial over whether protests at the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland warranted use of the military domestically under federal law.

The administration said the troops were needed to protect federal personnel and property.

Immergut said in the ruling the “evidence demonstrates that these deployments, which were objected to by Oregon’s governor and not requested by the federal officials in charge of protection of the ICE building, exceeded the President’s authority” because he wasn’t able to demonstrate there was a rebellion or threat of rebellion that couldn’t be enforced without the military.

The judge added that “even giving great deference to the President’s determination, the President did not have a lawful basis to federalize the National Guard.”

Immergut called the order unconstitutional, saying that it violated the 10th Amendment, “which ‘reserves to the States’ any powers not expressly delegated to the federal government in the Constitution.”

The city of Portland and state of Oregon had sued the administration over the deployment in September after Hegseth sent 200 troops to the city.

The administration can appeal the decision.

The administration also faces a temporary injunction in Chicago, where a judge has barred the administration from deploying troops.

Quote:Former President Joe Biden, wearing a seemingly fresh bandage on his head, told Nebraska Democrats Friday that his late son should have been elected commander-in-chief in 2020, not himself, in a speech ripping President Trump.

The ex-president invoked the 2015 death of his eldest son, Beau Biden, from brain cancer to attack Trump, who he accused of “cutting government funding for cancer research” after his administration made it a “priority.”

“Folks, I know what cancer research means,” Biden said in a speech at the Nebraska Democratic Party’s Ben Nelson Gala. “Cancer hits every family. It’s hit my family hard.”

“When the love of my life, my oldest son, the attorney general of the state of Delaware – who should’ve been the president, not me – volunteered to go to Iraq for a year, didn’t have to, he came back with stage four glioblastoma because he lived in a burn pit just like those guys did on 9/11, and he died,” the 46th president said quietly.

Biden, who was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer earlier this year, then referenced his own battle with the disease.

“But when you get that research, research, they’re, they’re doing, when they diagnose it – in my case, I just had prostate cancer – so, and, I, uh, when you finish that round of treatment, you get to ring that bell at the end of each treatment,” he said. “Well, thank God for the doctors and nurses and incredible breakthroughs we’re making in cancer research.”

“Now, Trump and his Republican friends are cutting government funding for health care, making it more expensive.”

Biden, who turns 83 on Nov. 20, appeared at the event wearing a seemingly new bandage on the top-left portion of his head. The reason for the new bandage is unclear.

In August, Biden underwent Mohs surgery, a procedure used to treat skin cancer, and appeared in public with a large bandage – and then a healing gash – on a different part of his head.

“Why in God’s name are they doing this?” Biden shouted as he continued to rail against the Trump administration budget cuts, arguing that the reason for them is to cut taxes for the “wealthiest people in America.”

Quote:An NYPD exodus is already underway, with a surge of officers quitting in the month leading up to anti-cop socialist Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win — and more might go if Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch exits, according to data and department sources.

The NYPD saw a 35% hike in cops of all ranks leaving in October – 245 police officers compared to 181 in the same month last year, according to Police Pension Fund data.

“Morale is down because everyone is concerned about the policies Mamdani wants to put in place,” said Detectives Endowment Association President Scott Munro.

“You have a person who is supposed to be running New York City that does not believe in law enforcement,” said Munro, a police officer for more than three decades. “What’s coming out of everyone’s mouth is, ‘We’re in trouble.'”

Whether more cops leave in the coming months will depend on the “Tisch factor,” a police union source said.
“If she leaves it may result in an uptick,” the source said. “If she stays, maybe not.”

The Police Benevolent Association, which will have to negotiate a new contract with Mamdani, bemoaned that the number of cops leaving could get worse.

“Every single month, we’re losing enough cops to staff an entire precinct,” PBA President Patrick Hendry said.

“It will certainly get worse if our city leaders don’t work with us to fix our unsustainable workload, our expired contract and the constant second-guessing that is driving good cops away from the job.”

Quote:Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband made at least $130 million in stock profits over the course of the California Democrat’s 37 years in Congress — a staggering return of 16,930%.

Pelosi, 85, announced this week she will retire when her term ends in January 2027.

The San Francisco pol became famous as the first woman to wield the speaker’s gavel, and infamous for her exceptional stock market returns.

Before first taking Congressional office in 1987, the then-47-year-old freshman and her hubby, venture capitalist Paul Pelosi, reported between $610,000 and $785,000 in stocks in their portfolio, according to a copy of her “hand delivered” 1987 financial disclosure form.

They held a dozen stocks, including CitiBank, and in many companies no longer publicly traded.

That portfolio has soared to $133.7 million today, according to the latest estimates from Quiver Quantitative.

That represents an eye-watering profit of 16,930% — compared to 2,300% for the Dow Jones over those years.

Even with the power of compound interest, the windfall represents a staggering 14.5% average annual return — beating out the S&P 500, NASDAQ and Dow Jones performances over those years, around 7% to 9%.

Last year, their investment portfolio pulled in an estimated 54% return, more than double the S&P 500’s 25% gain — and beating every large hedge fund, according to numbers in Bloomberg’s end-of-year tally.

Pelosi’s 2024 financial disclosure form shows holdings in some two dozen individual stocks, including millions in each of NVIDIA, Palo Alto Network, Salesforce, Netflix – and between $25 and $50 million of Apple stocks – their largest holding.

The Pelosis are worth an estimated $280 million today – compared to around $3 million when the Golden State lawmaker joined Congress.

They also have stakes in various other ventures, including a Napa Valley winery worth between $5 and 25 million, a Bay area Italian restaurant, commercial real estate and a political data and consulting firm.

Quote:UPS has temporarily grounded part of its air fleet after a deadly crash involving one of its cargo planes killed at least 14 people in Kentucky.

The decision will affect around 9 percent of the company's aircraft.

"Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have made the decision to temporarily ground our MD-11 fleet. MD-11s are approximately 9% of the UPS Airlines fleet," said the company in a statement.

"The grounding is effective immediately. We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve," added the statement.

"Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to deliver the reliable service our customers around the world count on," it added.

Newsweek has contacted UPS for additional comment via email.

Why It Matters

The grounding underscores the fragility of the U.S. supply chain heading into the busy holiday season. UPS is one of the nation’s largest air cargo carriers, and any disruption to its operations could delay deliveries and affect businesses that rely on rapid shipping.

What To Know

On Tuesday, an MD-11 operated by UPS Airlines (Flight 2976) crashed just after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The plane was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii.

At least 14 people died in the crash, officials said. That includes pilots Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the UPS MD-11 cargo jet departed Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport around 5:15 p.m. local time with three crew members onboard. Moments later, the plane’s left wing reportedly caught fire and an engine detached, sending the wide-body freighter crashing to the ground and erupting into a fireball.

In response, rival FedEx also grounded its fleet of 28 MD-11s out of caution. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since launched an investigation into the aircraft’s maintenance history, noting that the jet had recently undergone repairs in Texas.

A class-action lawsuit was filed the following day against UPS, Boeing, and General Electric, alleging that the companies' "recklessness" led to the crash, WDRB reported.

"(Their) recklessness has upended the lives and livelihoods of Plaintiffs and numerous Kentuckians, who live with trauma, fear and uncertainty caused by Defendants' actions," the suit claims.

Filed by local resident Shakeara Ware, auto shop Triple D, Inc., and property owner Ensey LLC, the complaint seeks damages for "emotional distress, business interruption, revenue losses, lost wages," and property damage.

The lawsuit also accuses the MD-11 model and its CF-6 engines of having a troubling safety history, alleging that the aircraft has been linked to multiple catastrophic failures and ranks among the least reliable commercial planes still in service.

However, NTSB investigators said the engine—not the wing—detached mid-flight, and the cause remains under review. The complaint references previous MD-11 crashes, including a 2009 FedEx disaster in Tokyo, and several CF-6-related accidents dating back decades, suggesting that similar mechanical defects “caused or contributed” to the Louisville crash.

What Happens Next

UPS said it is working closely with the NTSB and remains in "close contact with the Federal Aviation Administration" as investigations continue. No conclusions have yet been reached as to the cause of the crash, and enquiries and analysis are ongoing.

Quote:No illegal immigrants were released into the US in the past six months, as the Trump administration cracked down heavily on the influx of migrants unlawfully living in the country and crossing the southern border, President Trump declared on Truth Social Saturday.

“0 illegal aliens released into the U.S. in the last 6 months,’ his post simply said.

“All we needed was a new president,” the White House posted on Facebook.

On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security released preliminary data for October showing “record-low encounters, sustained control across all sectors, and the sixth straight month of zero releases by the U.S. Border Patrol.”

Total encounters of would-be border crossers were 29% lower than the previous low of 43,010 in 2012, and a 79% drop from October 2024, according to the agency.

Trump and his team have organized a “mass deportation campaign,” which includes a push for people illegally in the country to “self-deport” as well as major law enforcement operations involving ICE, Border Patrol and the National Guard in cities and towns across the US.

An October 2024 report by House Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee accused the Biden administration of releasing 1.4 million inadmissible aliens with “insufficient vetting” into the country through parole programs for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela and other countries.

On Friday 268,000 Venezuelans lost their Biden-era Temporary Protected Status under the new policy announced by DHS.

Quote:Senate Majority Leader John Thune quickly rejected a Democratic offer to reopen the government and extend expiring health care subsidies for a year, calling it a "nonstarter."

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer made the offer to reopen the government on Friday as Republicans have refused to negotiate on demands to extend health care subsidies.

It was a much narrowed version of a broad proposal the Democrats had laid out a month ago to make the health tax credits permanent and reverse Medicaid cuts that Republicans enacted earlier this year.

Why It Matters

Lawmakers in both parties are feeling increased urgency to reopen the government. The ongoing shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, has disrupted millions of lives, with government workers remaining unpaid and food aid payments delayed for millions.

Democrats have demanded an extension of expiring health care subsidies as part of a bill to fund the government, but Republicans have said they would not negotiate on health care until the government is reopened.

President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to end the shutdown quickly and scrap the legislative filibuster, which requires 60 Senate votes for most legislation, so they can bypass Democrats altogether. Republicans have rejected Trump's call and Thune has been eyeing a bipartisan package that mirrors the proposal the moderate Democrats have been sketching out.

Still, it remains unclear what Thune would promise on health care.

What To Know

In a floor speech on Friday, Schumer proposed a "clean" one-year extension to the subsidies expiring at the end of the year.

Schumer also called for the creation of a bipartisan committee to address Republican demands for changes to the Affordable Care Act.

He said it was "a simple proposal that would reopen the government and extend the ACA premium tax credits simultaneously. And then we have the opportunity to start negotiating longer-term solutions to health care costs."

He added: "We need Republicans to just say 'yes'."

But Thune quickly rejected the offer, reiterating that they would not trade offers on health care until the government is reopened.

"I think everybody who follows this knows that's a nonstarter,” he said, according to ABC News.

“There is no way. The Obamacare extension is the negotiation. That's what we're going to negotiate, once the government opens up."

Quote:Flight cancellations led to short lines at airports Saturday, while hundreds queued up at some NYC food banks, as the federal shutdown hit its 38th day with no end in sight.

Airports nationwide had more than 4,200 flights delayed and more than 1,000 canceled after the government imposed reductions due to problems with air traffic controllers who aren’t getting paid during the Democrat-led shutdown.

Scores of frustrated travelers had to change plans or stay home due to canceled flights; Charlotte Douglas International Airport was slammed with more than 120 cancellations and Newark International Airport followed closely behind with 109.

It was the second day in a row with more than 1,000 cancellations nationwide after the start of the Federal Aviation Administration’s slowdown Friday, according to FlightAware data.

The shutdown is “just ridiculous,” said Rachelle Ellery, 38 who was flying out of John F. Kennedy International Airport Saturday back home to Oregon after leaving a cruise with her hubby a day early because of a canceled flight. 

“I don’t know what else to say about it. They (the politicians) should just get it together so we can get on with our lives,” she told The Post.

In the Bronx, throngs of desperate locals lined up as early as 2:30 a.m. at food banks because of disruptions in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance benefits caused by the shutdown.

Carmen Verona told The Post she was there for the time ever because her mom and brother had their benefits cut. Her own $459 monthly SNAP benefits aren’t enough.

“Without the food stamps, it’s a lot … and that’s not even enough because I always got to put out of pocket like $200, $300 because it’s too expensive,” said Verona, 58, as she picked up fruit, vegetables, and apple juice.

“My income is not enough,” she added.

Even an end to the shutdown wouldn’t immediately fix problems, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, because it will take time to get beleaguered air traffic controllers back to work.

Also Saturday, President Trump urged Senate Republicans to end Obamacare and send federal health care spending “directly to the people,” taking on what has been a top Democratic talking point about rising health subsidies.

“I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies in order to save the bad Healthcare provided by ObamaCare, BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER, HEALTHCARE, and have money left over,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

Quote:MADRID — The longest U.S. government shutdown on record is doing more than grind activities to a halt at home; an ocean away in Europe, local workers at U.S. military bases have started to feel the pain.

At least 2,000 people working at overseas bases in Europe have had their salaries interrupted since the shutdown began almost six weeks ago. In some cases, governments hosting the U.S. bases have stepped in to foot the bill, expecting the United States to eventually make good. In others, including in Italy and Portugal, workers have simply kept working unpaid as the gridlock in Washington drags on.

“It’s an absurd situation because nobody has responses, nobody feels responsible,” said Angelo Zaccaria, a union coordinator at the Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy.

“This is having dramatic effects on us Italian workers,” he told The Associated Press.

An array of needed jobs

The jobs foreign nationals do at U.S. bases around the world range from food service, construction, logistics, maintenance and other, more specialized roles. In some cases, foreign workers are employed by private companies contracted by the U.S. government while others are direct hires.

How local employees are paid varies by country and is based on specific agreements the U.S. government has with each host nation, said Amber Kelly-Herard, a public affairs spokesperson for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa.

During the shutdown, Kelly-Herard said local employees were expected to continue to perform their jobs in accordance with their work contracts.

The AP reached out to the Pentagon with multiple questions on the pay disruption, but was only provided a brief statement that did not acknowledge it.

“We value the important contributions of our local national employees around the world,” it said. The official declined to answer any follow-up questions.

Quote:Fast food chain Wendy's is set to close hundreds of restaurants around the country.

CNN is reporting that in a call on Friday, Interim CEO Ken Cook told analysts a “mid single-digit percentage” of approximately 6,000 U.S. locations could close, which amounts to between 200 and 350 restaurants.

Cook said the closures will target "underperforming" locations in an effort to "boost sales and profitability."

“These actions will strengthen the system and enable franchisees to invest more capital and resources in their remaining restaurants,” Cook said. “Closures of underperforming units are expected to boost sales and profitability at nearby locations.”

Newsweek has contacted Wendy's for comment via email.

Why It Matters

The closures mark one of the largest cutbacks in Wendy’s history and highlight growing financial pressure on fast-food chains amid rising labor and food costs.

Shuttering up to 350 restaurants could lead to thousands of job losses and reduced competition in some local markets.

What To Know

The fast-food chain isn’t planning to close all of its struggling restaurants outright. Cook said the company aims to pinpoint underperforming locations and assess the best path forward for each. Instead of a one-size-fits-all strategy, Wendy’s will review individual stores to determine whether they can be improved or if shutting them down is the most viable option.

Wendy’s shut down 140 restaurants across the U.S. in 2024, though the company said at the time it planned to open new outlets in stronger markets.

The burger chain has lagged behind competitors in recent quarters. U.S. same-store sales dropped 4.7 percent, while McDonald’s, Burger King and Shake Shack all reported gains.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Wendy’s shares fell 2.6 percent on Friday and have plunged 46 percent so far this year. The company also reported quarterly net income of $44.3 million—down from $50.2 million a year ago.

However, Cook said there were reasons for optimism. The chain’s new chicken tenders, called “Tendys,” have proven unexpectedly popular. “We’re looking forward to continuing that momentum, and this is an encouraging first step as we look to reestablish our leadership position in chicken,” he added, noting that some stores ran out of the item before the marketing campaign even began.

Quote:Authorities are searching for a man who allegedly opened fire Saturday on Border Patrol agents in Chicago.

The shooter was behind the wheel of a black Jeep when they fired off the shots near 26th Street and Kedzie Avenue, as the agents conducted immigration enforcement operations on the city’s Southwest side, the US Department of Homeland Security wrote on X.

Agitators also hurled a paint can and bricks at the agency’s vehicles during the incident.

Chicago cops cleared the scene, and the shooter remains at large.

“The shooter and vehicle remain at large, and this is a dynamic situation,” the agency said in its post.

No one was hurt, according to reports.

“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of violence and obstruction,” DHS said.

“Over the past two months, we’ve seen an increase in assaults and obstruction targeting federal law enforcement during operations. These confrontations highlight the dangers our agents face daily and the escalating aggression toward law enforcement. The violence must end.”

Last month, Border Patrol agents shot a woman in Chicago after an angry mob tried to attack the officers.
Marimar Martinez was arrested on Oct. 4, and accused of driving within inches of a Border Patrol vehicle — running red lights and driving erratically, the FBI claimed.

The agents opened fire. Martinez pleaded not guilty, and the case is pending.

On Oct. 14, two illegal immigrants used their vehicle to ram into a border patrol convoy that sparked a dangerous car chase and riot in the Windy City, officials there confirmed.

Quote:The 2026 New York gubernatorial election will be “existential battle” to save New York and all of Western civilization from socialism, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) told The Post’s Rich Calder during a nearly 20-minute interview this week, excerpted below, discussing her decision to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Q: Under the state Constitution, governors could suspend or even remove elected officials from office.  Is that something you’d consider doing with socialist NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani if elected governor?

A: If elected governor, I will follow the New York State Constitution, which lays out a process. It is not based upon ideology. The Constitution is very specific about that process. . . . When we win, I will follow the Constitution and make an assessment.

Q: How do you get around the fact that President Trump is not popular in parts of New York – especially in New York City? Hochul is already using your alliance with Trump to raise cash from panicked Democrats.

A: Hochul’s campaign is helping us turn out low-propensity voters, which will be a key part of our electoral strategy. The reality is Kathy Hochul got about 3.1 million votes in New York and Donald Trump got nearly 3.6 million.  This race is going to be won on voter turnout, and it’s going to be won on a referendum on Kathy Hochul. . . .  Her name is on the ballot. My name will be on the ballot, and she is less popular than Donald Trump is in New York State.

Q: If you beat Hochul, do you plan to reverse congestion pricing?

A: Oh, absolutely. That is going to be a major part of my platform. It is a commuter tax. It is a tax on working New Yorkers, and it’s devastating the economy of New York City.

Q: Why did you decide to enter the governor’s race – and why now?

A: I am running to save New York. We have seen two decades of Democrats in the governor’s seat, and what has happened in New York? It’s become the most unaffordable state in the nation and one of the most unsafe. On the affordability issue, because of Kathy Hochul’s failed leadership, we are the highest tax state in the nation. We have the highest energy prices, the highest utility cost, highest rent, highest grocery bills. We also rank at the bottom when it comes to friendliness of doing business in New York.. . . And on the issue of safety, because of failed bail reform, every single day, there are violent crimes being committed against law-abiding New Yorkers. . . . New Yorkers are outraged, and so I decided to run because I want to save the state that I love. I’m born and raised in upstate New York, and I understand that traditionally New York is a Democrat state. But when I first ran for Congress over a decade ago, no one thought I could win. It was a Democrat seat. Republicans had struggled for many cycles to win it. . . . I went on to win the most expensive primary in the country, and I won the general election by over 20 points, shattering expectations, and we did that by building a coalition of Republicans, independents, and Democrats. And since then, we’ve built an apparatus where I put up some of the largest margins in the Northeast and the highest voter turnout of any congressional district in the state.

Quote:US airlines canceled more than 2,500 weekend flights by Saturday evening as the Federal Aviation Administration’s mandate to reduce air traffic because of the government shutdown showed no signs of easing.

The slowdown at many of the nation’s busiest airports did not cause immediate widespread disruptions. But it deepened the impact felt by the nation’s longest federal shutdown.

“We all travel. We all have somewhere to be,” said Emmy Holguin, 36, who was flying from Miami to see family in the Dominican Republic. “I’m hoping that the government can take care of this.”

Analysts warn that the upheaval will intensify and spread far beyond air travel if cancellations keep growing and reach into Thanksgiving week.

Already there are concerns about the squeeze on tourism destinations and holiday shipping.

Here’s what to know about the flight reductions:

How many flights have been canceled?

Cancellations jumped Saturday — typically a slow travel day — to more than 1,500, following just over 1,000 the previous day, according to the tracking website FlightAware.

By the evening, US airlines already had canceled another 1,000-plus for Sunday.

Airports in Atlanta and Chicago, as well as Charlotte, North Carolina, and Newark, New Jersey, saw numerous disruptions throughout the day.


Ongoing staffing shortages in radar centers and control towers added to the cancellations and delays at several East Coast airports, including those around New York City.

Not all the cancellations were due to the FAA order, and those numbers represented just a small portion of the overall flights nationwide. But they are certain to rise in the coming days if the slowdown continues.

The FAA said the reductions impacting all commercial airlines started at 4% of flights at 40 targeted airports and will be bumped up again Tuesday before hitting 10% on Friday.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned this week that even more cuts might be needed if the shutdown continues and more air traffic controllers are off the job.

Quote:Newly re-elected Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey is facing backlash from conservatives for giving a victory speech in Somali and saying that Minneapolis welcomes Somalians.

In a video of the speech posted online, Frey can be seen leading chants in Somali as the crowd responds and applauds.

Popular conservative influencer Paul Szypula ripped into the progressive mayor, writing, “The pandering here is insane.”

“Mayor Jacob Frey, as he won reelection, spoke almost a minute in Somalia then said Minneapolis belongs to Somalia,” said Szypula.

In a second round of nonpartisan ranked-choice voting, Frey narrowly defeated a challenge from socialist Minneapolis state Sen. Omar Fateh.

Fateh is the first Somali American and first Muslim to serve in the state Senate.

Fateh had the backing of the Twin Cities’ chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who represents Minneapolis in the US House of Representatives.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate last year who is up for re-election next year, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., endorsed Frey’s campaign this year.

While speaking with a crowd of Somali residents after his victory, Frey repeatedly thanked the crowd in Somali.

“To the great people of Minneapolis, and I say that very intentionally, because no matter where you are from, Minneapolis should be a place where you are proud to call home,” he said.

He then proceeded to list a number of Somalian regions, saying, “Whether you are from Bosaso or Mogadishu, whether you are from Hargeisa or Garowe, whether you are from Beledweyne or southwest, Minneapolis is a place where you come to seek prosperity, where you come to raise your family.”

“Here is what this election means. This election means this is a moment for unity, where the entire Somali community can come together and say, ‘This is our people. This is our city. We are united behind each other,” he said.

Conservative pundit Gerry Callahan slammed Frey’s speech, saying, “This is an American politician, raised in America, educated in America, ostensibly representing Americans, prostrating himself in front of bunch of foreigners. Could be the most humiliating thing I’ve ever seen.”

Podcaster Matt Walsh also chimed in, writing, “As I have said many times now, politicians in this country should be required by law to speak English when addressing the public in an official capacity. There should never be a time when Americans can’t understand what their elected leaders are saying.”

Nick Sortor wrote, “I don’t know how large ICE’s presence in Minneapolis is, but it needs to be much, MUCH larger.”

Quote:A federal appeals court sided with Florida this week in a case challenging its controversial ban on Chinese citizens buying real estate and land.

The court’s ruling allows the state to enforce its ban and paves the way for other states to introduce similar legislation.

The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 on Tuesday that the Florida law, introduced in 2023, did not violate federal law or discriminate against Asians.

What Do We Know About the Ban?

In May 2023, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 264, which restricted “foreign principals” from purchasing agricultural land and certain real estate in Florida.

These, by definition, include various entities or individuals operating outside the U.S., among which are individuals who are not U.S. citizens or are not domiciled in the country.

The bill’s text identifies China as a “foreign country of concern”—along with Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria—specifying that any acquisition or purchase or real estate property in Florida by the People’s Republic of China is prohibited.

The ban is not limited to the Chinese Communist Party or its members. The law says that “any person who is domiciled in the People’s Republic of China and who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States” is forbidden from buying property in Florida. Essentially, any Chinese national who is not a U.S. citizen or a green card holder cannot buy a home in the Sunshine State.

The law came into effect on July 1, 2023. In a news release later that year, DeSantis said the bill was “the strongest legislation in the nation to fight back against foreign malign influence.”

According to DeSantis, the bill seeks to strengthen the state’s security, “protecting Floridians and Florida’s infrastructure from agents like the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign adversaries.”

What Did the Court of Appeals Decide?

Shortly after the ban was signed into law in May 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on behalf of four Chinese citizens living in Florida and a real estate brokerage firm helping Chinese and Chinese Americans buyers purchase property in the U.S.

According to the complaint, the ban was in violation of the 14th Amendment and the Fair Housing Act, among other legislation, which prohibits any discrimination in housing based on race or color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability.

The issue was escalated to the federal court of appeals, which last year blocked the law from being enforced pending the outcome of the appeal.

This week, a different 11th Circuit panel sided with Florida, saying that ACLU lacked legal standing because the ban applied only to people “domiciled” in China, and the Chinese nationals involved in the complaint have lived in the Sunshine State for years.

The court also ruled that the Florida ban was not in violation of anti-discrimination federal laws. “National, individual, land, and food security concerns motivated [the law’s] enactment,” Circuit Judge Robert Luck wrote for the court, as reported by Reuters.

Ashley Gorski, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s National Security Project, said in a statement following the ruling, “All people, regardless of where they come from, should be free to buy homes and build lives in Florida without fear of discrimination.”

She added, “Although today’s decision is disappointing, we’ll continue to fight laws like these that blatantly target immigrants based on their national origin and ethnicity.”

Quote:The Trump administration on Friday moved to dissolve a preliminary injunction that bars Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, from removal, clearing the path for his deportation to Liberia.

Abrego Garcia’s lawyer, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, told Newsweek in an email statement, in part, on Saturday evening: “We’ll be filing our opposition to the motion on Friday.”

Why It Matters

Abrego Garcia’s immigration story has been in the spotlight since March when the Trump administration sent him to the high-security CECOT prison in El Salvador in what was deemed an administrative error. He was returned to the United States in June after a months-long court fight and now faces human smuggling charges, which he denies, stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee.

Since a court order prevents Abrego Garcia’s return to El Salvador, the administration has been looking for a third country to accept him, with Eswatini, Uganda, and Ghana previously floated, and the most recent filings identifying Liberia.

The Trump administration reported in September that “2 million illegal aliens have been removed or self-deported in just 250 days.” President Donald Trump has pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. Some of the deportees have been sent back to their country of origin, while others have gone to third countries that have entered an agreement with the U.S.

What To Know

In a lengthy court filing, government lawyers pushed for U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis to “dissolve its preliminary injunction and permit the government to remove Petitioner to Liberia,” according to court documents reviewed by Newsweek. This summer, Xinis issued the preliminary injunction barring Abrego Garcia’s removal.

The attorneys argued that Abrego Garcia “has not carried his burden for obtaining relief based on fear of persecution or torture,” in Liberia, and noted that the “United States has received the requisite assurances from the government of Liberia, which here notably includes assurance that individuals would not be refouled to any country where they would be subject to persecution or torture.”

His immigration saga has extended for months as the administration admitted it first mistakenly deported him to El Salvador. Previously, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Abrego Garcia it planned to send him to Uganda, which he objected to, saying he feared being persecuted or tortured. Xinis blocked his deportation to Uganda in late-August.

Abrego Garcia’s legal team has pushed back against Liberia as a removal destination noting in an October filing that he “expressed fear of removal to that country and requested a reasonable fear interview.”

Abrego Garcia came to the U.S. illegally as a teenager, and is married to a U.S. citizen, residing in Maryland. He has said he is willing to be deported to Costa Rica, which has indicated it would accept him, but the administration has not pursued that option publicly.

The Trump administration maintains that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, which Trump designated a terrorist organization in January. He and his family have consistently denied this allegation.

Sandoval-Moshenberg told Newsweek in an email statement Saturday, “The government still has not produced anything that guarantees Mr. Abrego Garcia will not be re-deported from Liberia to El Salvador, since the government of Liberia explicitly stated that they are only willing to accept him there on a temporary basis.”

Quote:The crew of China's Shenzhou-20 mission have had to delay their return to Earth after concerns their spacecraft had been struck by space debris, China's Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said Wednesday.

Newsweek reached out to the CMSA by email with a request for comment.

Why It Matters

The incident highlights the risks posed by an increasingly crowded low orbit. Traveling at speeds of up to five miles per second, or roughly eight kilometers per second, even tiny fragments of debris can severely damage space stations, crewed vehicles, and critical communication or defense satellites.

These risks have prompted the United States, China, and other spacefaring nations to develop advanced systems for tracking, avoiding, and potentially removing orbital debris.

In 2021, NASA astronauts were forced to cancel a spacewalk at the last minute after an 11-foot-wide fragment of a Russian rocket stage was forecast to pass dangerously close to the International Space Station.

What To Know

The CMSA said it had begun an impact assessment on the Shenzhou-20 to ensure the safety of its taikonauts—as Chinese astronauts are known—state media reported. The spacecraft had been scheduled to return to Earth on Wednesday.

The agency did not specify the location or extent of the damage.

The Shenzhou-20 launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia on April 25 for a six-month mission to China’s permanent space station, the Tiangong.

It was the sixth three-person crewed mission to the Tiangong. During their stay, the astronauts conducted various scientific experiments and added two of a planned 23 experimental modules to the station.

Quote:China officially put its most-advanced aircraft carrier, CNS Fujian, into service at a ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, marking a major milestone for the East Asian power in developing its armed forces to "world-class" standards.

The Fujian is China's first aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, a design decided by Xi personally, the Chinese military said on Friday. The technology enables the Fujian to launch heavier fixed-wing aircraft, bolstering its combat power.

Why It Matters

Like its U.S. counterpart, the Chinese military has viewed aircraft carriers as a visible symbol of its strength. Under Xi's leadership, the People's Liberation Army has been undergoing modernization, including its fast-growing nuclear forces, with a long-term goal of making it "world-class" by 2049, coinciding with the centennial of the country.

What To Know

As part of its military buildup, China operates the world's largest navy by hull count, with over 370 vessels, according to a Pentagon assessment. The Chinese fleet includes three conventionally powered aircraft carriers—CNS Liaoning, CNS Shandong and the Fujian. Its naval adversary, the United States, has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

Xi, who also serves as China's military leader, attended the commissioning and flag-presenting ceremony of the Fujian, which has the hull number 18, at a naval port in the city of Sanya in the southern province of Hainan, located north of the South China Sea.

The Chinese military said Xi has "consistently paid close attention" to China's aircraft-carrier development. After the ceremony, the president boarded the Fujian and received a briefing on the development of aircraft-carrier fleet and the use of electromagnetic catapults.

The Chinese leader also witnessed how the Fujian's three catapults work. "He visited the catapult control station, observed the workflow, pressed the catapult button and the unloaded launcher on the deck shot like an arrow toward the bow," the report said.

Several aircraft were parked on the Fujian's flight deck for Xi's inspection, including J-15T and J-35 fighter jets and KJ-600 early warning aircraft. These were first spotted in an October 25 satellite image of Yulin Naval Base, along with the Shandong.

Unlike the Fujian, both the Liaoning and the Shandong are "ski-jump" aircraft carriers, which are not equipped with catapults to support their aircraft's flight operations.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies' ChinaPower project, the Fujian began construction in 2017 and was launched in 2022. The warship, named after Fujian province, underwent nine sea trials between May last year and September.

The Fujian has become one of two aircraft carriers in the world equipped with electromagnetic catapults, the other being USS Gerald R. Ford. The Chinese military said its electromagnetic catapult technology is "among the world's most advanced."

Quote:China's exports shrank unexpectedly in October, Beijing's official commerce data showed, dragged down by a sharp fall in shipments to the U.S. amid the trade battle with President Donald Trump.

Beijing's grip on rare earths processing is a major problem for the U.S. and its advanced manufacturing sector. But the drop in exports highlights Trump's substantial leverage over China, of which the exporters—the engine of its economy—still rely heavily on American demand, despite Beijing's recent efforts to diversify its markets beyond the U.S., such as in Europe and Southeast Asia.

China Exports Data

There was a 25 percent drop in Chinese shipments to the U.S. during the month, according to the data released Friday. This was compounded by a 1.1 percent drop in China’s global exports in October compared to a year earlier, the weakest since February, following an 8.3 percent increase in September.

October 2024 was a high comparable base, which sharpened the fall this year, because American firms had loaded up their inventories in anticipation of a Trump victory and a renewed trade war with China. But that frontloading of inventory is over—and it spells bad news for China in the coming months.

China’s shipments to the U.S. have already fallen by double-digits for seven consecutive months. A Reuters poll of analysts had forecast a 3 percent rise in October after September's strong performance.

Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for the Asia-Pacific at Natixis, told Reuters that "it's going to be much tougher for China in the fourth quarter, which means it's going to be tougher in the first half of 2026 as well."

Trump-Xi Meeting

At their meeting in South Korea in late October, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to lower tariffs and postpone new port fees they had imposed on each other's vessels.

China paused some of its export controls on rare earths for one year and agreed to purchase more soybeans and other farm products from the U.S. The U.S. eased some sanctions on Chinese companies.

Goldman Sachs economists said following the Trump-Xi meeting that they expect Chinese export volumes to grow by 5 percent to 6 percent annually, helping China to gain global market share and driving its overall economic expansion.

“The reduction in some of these tariffs as part of the latest U.S.-China trade ‘deal’ may provide a small boost to exports,” Leah Fahy and Zichun Huang, China economists at Capital Economics, wrote in a recent note.

But that won’t show up until later in the last quarter of this year, they said.

Imports rose 1 percent in October, compared with a 7.4 percent growth in September year-on-year. Economists said a prolonged property sector downturn and weak domestic consumption remain a concern.

Quote:A visiting forces agreement signed by the Philippines and Canada marked Manila’s latest move to strengthen military ties with international partners amid mounting territorial tensions with China.

Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

China claims sovereignty over almost all of the trade-heavy South China Sea, putting it at odds with competing claims by the Philippines and several other neighboring countries.

In recent years, Beijing has sought to solidify its presence inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), including ejecting Filipino fishermen. The Philippine government has released footage showing Chinese vessels using water cannons and ramming maneuvers while intercepting its ships.

China has also stepped up its presence near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, which lies within the Philippines’ maritime zone, after unilaterally declaring a “nature reserve” over much of the feature—drawing strong protests from Manila, Washington and several other U.S. allies.

What To Know

On Sunday, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his Canadian counterpart, David McGuinty, signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, enabling their respective armed forces to operate and train within each other’s borders.

Teodoro called the pact “one of the most important projections of trust and confidence between nations.” He continued, “Our armed forces and defense establishments can converge, can work together not only bilaterally but with other like-minded partners to preserve and enforce peace and stability, to deter instability.”

The agreement also paves the way for Canada to participate in more complex joint military exercises, such as Sama Sama, a U.S. and Philippine-led naval exercise it joined last month.

Canada is among several U.S. allies maintaining a regular presence in the Indo-Pacific amid China’s growing assertiveness. It becomes the fifth country to sign a visiting forces agreement with the Philippines, following the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

During a joint news briefing in Makati City following the signing, McGuinty said Ottawa had committed to maintaining a “persistent naval presence of three Canadian ships in the region each year.” He noted that Canadian naval vessels had made nine port calls to the Philippines over the past three years.

Quote:The White House is preparing to deploy the United States military to an air base in the Syrian capital of Damascus to help shore up a potential security pact between Syria and Israel that U.S. President Donald Trump is currently brokering, according to a new report.

Why It Matters
Washington has swiveled its relations with Damascus since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, and the crumbling of his Iranian-allied regime.

The country's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is due to meet with Trump at the White House on Monday, a historic first for a Syrian head of state. The U.S. in June lifted longstanding sanctions on Syria and has petitioned the United Nations Security Council to remove its own measures leveled against al-Sharaa.

What To Know

The U.S. is planning to use the base to keep an eye on a possible agreement between Israel and Syria, Reuters reported, citing six sources familiar with preparations at the facility.

It is not clear which site is referenced in the report, nor how many U.S. troops would be involved and when they could arrive. The news agency said it had agreed to omit the exact location after a U.S. administration official requested that the information be withheld for operational security reasons.

A U.S. defense official told Newsweek that they had no information to provide.

The U.S. has cut down on the 2,000 U.S. troops previously stationed in Syria and closed several bases, U.S. special envoy to Damascus, Thomas Barrack, said earlier this year. Barrack also serves as the U.S. ambassador to Turkey.

The Pentagon announced in April that it intended to reduce U.S. troop levels in the country to fewer than 1,000 personnel in the following months. The U.S. deployed forces to Syria more than a decade ago to fight ISIS and support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led organization. The SDF is in the process of integrating into the Syrian military.

Syrian authorities would keep full control of the base, two military sources in the country said. A Western official stated that the Department of Defense had conducted multiple reconnaissance missions to the site and deemed the runway suitable for aircraft use.

A Syrian defense official told Reuters that the U.S. had flown to the facility in a C-130 military transport aircraft.

Quote:New satellite imagery shows what appears to be Iran’s shadow fleet operating in the South China Sea, transferring oil via ship-to-ship to tankers possibly bound for China.

Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department, the Iranian and Chinese foreign ministries for comment.

Why It Matters

The U.S. is escalating enforcement against Iran’s covert oil trade. Beijing’s refiners have increasingly relied on Russian, Iranian and Venezuelan oil, much of it carried by older or reflagged "shadow" vessels operating outside Western shipping and insurance systems.

What To Know

Satellite imagery captured on Sunday shows at least five oil tankers conducting ship-to-ship transfers in the South China Sea, roughly 70 kilometers off Malaysia’s eastern coast, near Johor, according to an open-source intelligence (OSINT) X account specializing in maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

Charlie B., who posts on X as @supbrow, said that most of the shipments appeared to involve oil moving from Iran to China.

In October, the U.S. government imposed new sanctions on a network of companies and ships it said had enabled Iran to earn billions of dollars from oil exports, targeting those involved in moving Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), nearly two dozen shadow fleet vessels, a China-based crude oil terminal, and an independent “teapot” refinery—all part of a network helping Iran sell oil and fund its proxy groups.

"This is the fourth round of sanctions where the Trump Administration has targeted China-based refineries that continue to purchase Iranian oil," a statement by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) read on October 9. Iran has previously condemned sanctions against its oil industry.

Iranian oil discounts to China have hit a year‑high as sanctions on Iran and Russia tighten, squeezing independent refiners already constrained by import quotas, trade sources told Reuters on October 29. "There was just too much supply, and the market is directionless," a China-based trader was quoted as saying, though the report mentioned sanctions prompting some buyers in China to pause purchases.

Last month, several operators at Qingdao Port in eastern Shandong province sought to impose new restrictions possibly aimed at foreign “shadow fleet” tankers delivering sanctioned crude.

As for Malaysia, which recently signed a trade agreement with the U.S., limited resources for maritime authorities make it difficult to curb the widespread transshipment of U.S.-sanctioned Iranian oil off the country’s coast, a 2024 report by the Malaysian think-tank, the Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS).

What People Are Saying

U.S. Department of Treasury said in press release on October 9: "Iran’s shadow fleet employs obfuscation tactics to mask shipments of Iran-origin petroleum and relies on services from companies in China and elsewhere to deliver their goods. Iranian exporters often transfer cargoes between shadow fleet vessels—at times with the aid of tugboats—in the Persian Gulf and in waters off the coast of Singapore and Malaysia in order to disguise the origin of their cargoes."

Quote:Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a dire warning that the Iranian capital could soon face catastrophic water shortages and even evacuation if rain does not fall soon.

Speaking Thursday, Pezeshkian described a nation on the brink, struggling with economic turmoil, environmental collapse and social unrest. Tehran stands at the center of this mounting crisis, its 20 million population and strained infrastructure leaving it dangerously exposed to the worsening drought.

Newsweek has contacted Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

The crisis facing Tehran reflects a broader water emergency that extends across Iran. Years of declining rainfall, drought, and overuse of limited water reserves have left much of the country vulnerable. Rivers and reservoirs are running dry, while groundwater sources have been overexploited to sustain agriculture and urban growth. As rainfall continues to decrease, water scarcity has become a nationwide threat, affecting cities, villages, and farmlands alike.

Iran’s semi-arid climate makes it especially susceptible to drought, but the current situation has reached critical levels. Many provinces have seen reservoir capacities fall dramatically, and entire communities now depend on water rationing. Tehran, which relies heavily on five main dams, has become the most visible example of the crisis, but the shortage extends far beyond the capital. Persistent drought and mismanagement have turned water security into one of Iran’s most pressing national challenges.

What to Know

During his speech, Pezeshkian acknowledged that Iran’s difficulties stem from both internal mismanagement and the effects of international sanctions. "High prices and inflation are the fault of both the parliament and the government. There are efforts underway, but limited financial resources mean projects remain unfinished," he said, according to Iranian media.

Turning to the deepening drought, Pezeshkian warned that Iran faces serious natural and environmental challenges. "If it doesn’t rain, we will have to start restricting water supplies in Tehran next month. If the drought continues, we will run out of water and be forced to evacuate the city," he said. The president described the situation as "alarming" and emphasized the urgent need for better management of water and energy resources.

Quote:President Donald Trump has said Iran has asked whether U.S. sanctions could be lifted, calling the current measures “very heavy” and noting he is “open to hearing that, and we’ll see what happens.”

Speaking at the White House late Thursday, Trump offered no timeline or conditions for engagement but signalled a potential opening for dialogue between the longtime rivals.

Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

Any easing of U.S. sanctions would mark a significant shift in American foreign policy toward Tehran. Trump’s administration has pursued a “maximum pressure” campaign, including strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and tight economic restrictions.

Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran stalled after a 12-day war sparked by a surprise Israeli attack earlier this year. Any change in policy could influence the balance of power in the Middle East, affect global oil markets, and reshape relations with U.S. allies in the region.

What to Know

Trump told reporters: “Iran has been asking if the sanctions could be lifted. Iran has got very heavy U.S. sanctions and it makes it really hard for them to do what they'd like to be able to do. And I'm open to hearing that, and we'll see what happens, but I would be open to it.”

The president has not committed to any specific steps, but his openness indicates a potential recalibration of U.S. strategy toward Tehran.

The “maximum pressure” strategy, reinstated early in his second term, was designed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and limit its regional influence. Previous negotiations, including the 2015 nuclear deal, collapsed after the U.S. withdrew, citing inadequate oversight.

Trump on Israel-Iran Conflict
Trump also addressed the recent conflict between Israel and Iran, providing new details on U.S. involvement.

“Israel attacked first. That attack was very, very powerful. I was very much in charge of that,” he said. “When Israel attacked Iran first, that was a great day for Israel because that attack did more damage than the rest of them put together.”

The Israeli assault on June 13 killed several top Iranian generals and nuclear scientists, along with numerous civilians. Iran responded with hundreds of missile strikes against Israel, after which the U.S. joined the conflict by bombing Iran’s three major nuclear facilities.

Quote:In an exclusive interview conducted ahead of fateful parliamentary elections, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani outlines to Newsweek his efforts to transform his nation from a source of unrest to a regional hub of commerce, innovation and stability.

Sudani, who came to power in October 2022 amid political turmoil that unraveled his predecessor’s administration, has thus far overseen a period of relative calm for Iraq, a feat made all the more notable by the turbulence that has consumed the region around it.

The war that erupted in Gaza one year into Sudani’s term has led to conflict and upheaval across the Middle East, with Iraqi militias also joining the fight, facing direct strikes from the United States and threats from Israel. And yet Iraq has since managed to avoid the kind of turmoil wrought by the conflict on Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and even Iran itself.

The Iraqi premier credits this among his achievements, detailing a crucial position for his government in mediating between the U.S. and Iran, both viewed as key partners for Iraq, and reining in the activities of armed factions, who he hopes to further integrate into the nation’s political process.

Sudani sees this as part of his broader “Vision 2050” platform, a six-pillar initiative designed to redefine Iraq’s future after decades of strife. In each of these projects, Sudani touts an “Iraq First” mentality that he says aligns with the outlook of U.S. President Donald Trump.

These promises will be put to the test during Iraq’s November 11 parliamentary election, during which his Reconstruction and Development Coalition and its allies will vie for seats against an array of rivals, including influential Shiite Muslim blocs and other dynasties and independents looking to define Iraq’s future.
...
Newsweek: I understand you have an election coming up very soon. How are you feeling?

Sudani: Of course, we are at the end of the latest government that continued for three years, because the term is four years. Previously, political differences led to the formation of the government. It was supposed to be that this government would continue for one year and then there would be early elections, according to the agreement of the political forces. But because of the performance of the government, it made all the difference to give this government a chance to be for three years.

I think what we have achieved is something to be proud of on all levels. Sometimes, we write these achievements in a booklet, but some people may read it and not focus on the value of the achievements. What we have accomplished is important and pivotal because they happened for the first time.

For example, a comprehensive census for Iraq needed to be established because any development, any planning that the government would depend on for statistics and numbers would be incomplete, so I insisted on creating a census, which had been delayed since 2010. There was a difference between the ethnic groups, which is a very sensitive issue, there was a clerical difference, there was a security problem. And so, since 2010, it was delayed.

So, this government set out on organizing a census to ensure we are meeting all the required measures and in compatibility with the entire nation, which is something that is very important for all citizens. For 48 hours, there was a curfew across all of Iraq, without the use of the security forces. And the people actually committed to that curfew and interacted with the census workers.

It’s the first digital census, it’s not a paper-based census. During Saddam Hussein’s census, I was an employee at that time, in 1997, it was a paper-based census, and the government required two years until the results were released. This census required only two months. 

And this is the first comprehensive census in Iraq since 1987, so we haven’t had a comprehensive census in 37 years, as the census in 1997 excluded the Iraqi Kurdistan Region because it was separated, as you know. So, this is important, because all of the planning, all of the policies, all of the programs will be based on that census. Under the supervision of the United Nations, which issued a report praising the census, other countries in the region came to us to work with our experiences.

This is one example. There are many. For example, the local elections were delayed since 2013. In Kirkuk, it is a special situation. Because there are Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen there. And no [local] election was held since 2005, and we did that after we established a debate and discussions with assurances that they have a local government.

Our accomplishments are on the level of economic reforms, financial reforms, many service reforms, so certainly, in the end, we enter the elections with confidence. These are achievements I can speak of.

And that is something no previous prime minister has offered. They entered elections without any achievements. The people were upset, and this reflected their decision on whether or not to participate [in elections]. Unfortunately, most of the citizens decided to abstain because of the performance of the government.

It is the opposite now. The total number of citizens who registered since 2023 as new registrations to enter the elections is 5 million citizens. This is an unprecedented number and will be reflected in participation.

Quote:Tea is spilling — and these disgraced Brits will have a hard time cleaning it up.

Former Duke of York Prince Andrew is under investigation by London police and may face jail time, while his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson is also being probed for unscrupulous use of charity money — and they both could be forced out of the UK, according to a new report.

“Andrew is going to be charged with various public offenses and misconduct in public office … he’ll probably go to jail. The case against him is pretty clear … he’s toast,” historian Andrew Lownie, author of “Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,” told NewsNation’s Paula Froelich.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s third child, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor “won’t go down for sex trafficking, it will be for financial impropriety,” Lownie told the outlet.

The “Prince” and “His Royal Highness” was stripped of his titles on Nov. 3 amidst allegations he was one of Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous clients

Andrew, 65, was a trade envoy for the UK from 2001 until 2011 and would rub elbows with questionable characters in countries such as Libya, Kazakhstan and Laos — forgoing embassies to stay at five-star hotels and rack up high bills.

The police are also looking into claims that Andrew asked an officer in 2011 to find personal information about his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, 41.

The late Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, claimed in her memoir “Nobody’s Girl” — published posthumously in October — that Jeffrey Epstein ordered her to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, including when she was 17.

The UK campaign group Republic, which advocates for abolishing the monarchy, is also asking lawyers to consider prosecution against Andrew for alleged sexual assault, corruption or misconduct while in public office.

In the meantime, 66-year-old Ferguson, whom Andrew divorced in 1996, is also being investigated for using proceeds from book deals and endorsements for her own gain — instead of the charity they were supposed to be intended for.

“She’s been basically using charities to make money. So she’s gonna be in trouble there,” Lownie continued.

The former power couple will most likely need to move out of England, Lownie predicted.

Quote:LONDON (AP) — U.K. police on Monday charged a 32-year-old man with attempted murder over a mass stabbing attack on a train that wounded 11 people, and said he also tried to kill someone at a London transit station earlier the same day.

British Transport Police said Anthony Williams is charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one of actual bodily harm, and one of possession of a bladed article over the attack on Saturday.

Police said he is also charged with attempted murder over an earlier incident at Pontoon Dock light rail station in London just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, in which a victim “suffered facial injuries after being attacked with a knife” by an assailant who fled the scene.

Police said investigators are also “looking at other possible linked offenses.”

Police say they are not treating the train stabbings as an act of terror and are not looking for other suspects. A second man initially arrested as a suspect was released without charge on Sunday after it was determined the 35-year-old was not involved.

Williams, a British citizen from the city of Peterborough in eastern England, made a brief appearance at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Williams, who was flanked by four security officers as he stood in the dock wearing a gray prison tracksuit and handcuffs, was ordered detained until his next hearing on Dec. 1. He was not asked to enter pleas.

The minutes-long stabbing spree spread fear and panic through a train bound from Doncaster in northern England to London on Saturday evening. The train was about halfway through its journey and had just departed from a stop at Peterborough when police began receiving calls about people being stabbed on board.

Passengers described scenes of panic as bloodied travelers raced down the train to get away from the knifeman. Eleven people were treated in the hospital. The most seriously wounded victim is a member of railway staff who tried to stop the attacker. Police called his actions “ nothing short of heroic.”

He is hospitalized in a critical but stable condition. Four other victims remained in the hospital on Monday.

Williams was arrested when the train made an emergency stop in the town of Huntingdon in eastern England. Police say he was detained within eight minutes of officers receiving the first emergency calls.

Authorities said the attack was an isolated incident but stepped up security on the railway, with armed police officers on patrol Monday at major train stations.

Quote:Terrifying surveillance video shows the moment the UK mass train stabbing suspect stormed into a barbershop armed with a huge knife — just one day before he allegedly carried out his bloody rampage on a London-bound train.

Anthony Williams, 32, was caught on camera pacing outside the barbershop Friday night soon after he allegedly knifed a 14-year-old boy in a separate attack, the Sun reported.

The maniac could be seen whipping out the huge blade and barging into the shop as employees and customers scrambled out of the way just before 7:30 p.m.

It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was injured in the ordeal.

The chilling saga is one of three knife attacks allegedly tied to the suspect.

It unfolded just minutes after Williams had allegedly stabbed a teen nearby.

The 14-year-old boy who was injured in the initial attack was treated for minor injuries at a hospital.

The violence unfolded less than 24 hours before Williams allegedly stormed a London-bound train in Huntingdon in the country’s east on Saturday night and wounded 11 people.

The alleged perp screamed “Kill me, kill me” as cops descended on the scene.

Williams has since been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one of actual bodily harm and one of possession of a bladed article over the frenzied rampage.

Quote:The BBC has upheld a complaint that presenter Martine Croxall broke the network’s guidelines by correcting the term “pregnant people” to “women” during a live broadcast.

“London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has released research, which says that nearly 600 heat-related deaths are expected in the U.K.,” Croxall began in the June broadcast.

“Malcolm Mistry, who was involved in the research, says that the aged, pregnant people — women,” she said, pausing briefly with an edge in her voice, “and those with pre-existing health conditions need to take precautions.”

According to the BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU), 20 viewers filed complaints about Croxall’s reaction and determined that she breached the BBC’s editorial standards of impartiality.

“The phrase ‘pregnant people’ was followed by a facial expression which has been variously interpreted by complainants as showing disgust, ridicule, contempt or exasperation,” the BBC reported in a news release Thursday.

BBC News management initially claimed Croxall was reacting to “scripting which somewhat clumsily incorporated phrases from the press release accompanying the research.”

BBC’s style guide also does not include specific rules about using the term “pregnant people.”

However, the ECU claimed Croxall’s expression and the praise she received online showed she was sharing a “personal view” on a “controversial matter.”

“Even accepting this explanation, however, the ECU considered the facial expression which accompanied the change of ‘people’ to ‘women’ laid it open to the interpretation that it indicated a particular viewpoint in the controversies currently surrounding trans identity, and the congratulatory messages Ms. Croxall later received on social media, together with the critical views expressed in the complaints to the BBC and elsewhere, tended to confirm that the impression of her having expressed a personal view was widely shared across the spectrum of opinion on the issue,” the news release said.

The ECU reported the findings to BBC News management, which reportedly discussed the matter with Croxall and the editorial team behind the video. It is unclear what additional action will be taken.

The BBC declined to comment to Fox News Digital.

The clip was lauded by J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series and a staunch defender of women-only spaces, who wrote on X, “I have a new favorite BBC presenter.”

Quote:The BBC is reportedly expected to apologize after using a “doctored” clip of President Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, speech in a documentary released last year.

BBC chairman Samir Shah will apologize to the UK House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday, expressing regret for misleading viewers by splicing together clips of Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally in the Panorama documentary, which aired last October, the Telegraph reported.

The mea culpa comes after Michael Prescott, the British network’s former Editorial Guidelines and Standards adviser, released a damning 19-page report alleging widespread bias within the organization and highlighting warnings he issued in May about the “doctored” speech, according to the outlet.

The whistleblower claimed the BBC “mangled” the clip in its documentary “Trump: A Second Chance?” to make it appear as if the president encouraged crowds to storm the Capitol.

Prescott noted that the network aired footage of Trump appearing to tell rally-goers: “We’re gonna walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be there with you and we fight. We fight like hell and if you don’t fight like hell you’re not gonna have a country any more.”

The clip was spliced together from three separate parts of Trump’s speech — with a nearly hour-long gap edited out to make it seem like one fluent sentence.

Trump’s actual remarks were: “We’re gonna walk down, and I’ll be there with you, we’re gonna walk down, we’re gonna walk down any one of you but I think right here, we’re gonna walk down to the Capitol and we’re gonna cheer on our brave senators and congressman and women.”

The BBC edited out the president saying, “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”

About 54 minutes into Trump’s speech, he told the crowd, “We fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not gonna have a country anymore.”

Prescott called the deceptive editing “shocking,” according to the report.

“This created the impression that Trump said something he did not and, in doing so, materially misled viewers,” the ex-adviser wrote.

Quote:A driver shouted “Allahu Akbar” after he deliberately plowed into ten people during a violent rampage in western France on Wednesday, critically injuring four, according to reports.

The brutal scene happened just before 9 a.m. in he villages of Dolus-d’Oléron and Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron on Île d’Oléron, an island off the west coast of France, Le Parisien reported.

The male driver, identified as a French nationalist in his thirties known to police for petty crimes, rammed his car into the crowd that consisted of pedestrians and cyclists.

Some of the ten people, including two who are in critical condition, were airlifted to the University Hospital of Poitiers, according to the outlet. Their ages range from 22 to 67.

The unidentified driver was detained near the crash scene, attempting to light his car on fire.

The driver shouted “Allahu Akbar” during his arrest, the outlet reported, citing the local prosecutor’s office.

“Multiple accidents occurred in Saint Pierre and Dolus,” Dolus-d’Oléron Mayor Thibault Brechkoff wrote on Facebook. “They were caused by someone deliberately causing these accidents.”

An investigation was opened into the cause and motive behind the crash, including if the driver suffered from psychiatric disorders or was abusing drugs or alcohol.

Quote:PARIS — French authorities have warned they may block access to Shein after it emerged that the online fast fashion giant had been selling sex dolls with a childlike appearance.

France’s consumer watchdog, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, said last week it had discovered the dolls on Shein’s website, noting that their descriptions and categorization left little doubt as to their child-pornographic nature.

The agency has referred the case to public prosecutors, and Economy Minister Roland Lescure said on Monday he would seek to ban Shein from the French market if such incidents were to occur again.

“This is provided for by law,” he said. “In cases involving terrorism, drug trafficking, or child pornographic materials, the government has the right to request that access to the French market be prohibited,” Lescure told BFM TV.

The law authorizes French authorities to order online platforms to remove clearly illegal content such as child pornography within 24 hours. If they fail to comply, authorities can require internet service providers and search engines to block access and delist the site.

The watchdog said it has issued a formal notice urging the platform to take urgent corrective measures.

Shein said in a statement that it has banned all sex-doll products, and temporarily removed its adult products category for review.

It added that it has launched an investigation to determine how these listings bypassed its screening measures.

“The fight against child exploitation is non-negotiable for Shein,” said Executive Chairman Donald Tang said in the statement. “These were marketplace listings from third-party sellers, but I take this personally. Trust is our foundation, and we will not allow anything that violates it.”

He noted that every related product has been removed and that “We are tracing the source and will take swift, decisive action against those responsible.”

Quote:President Donald Trump announced on Friday a new nuclear energy cooperation deal with Hungary, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the first agreement of its kind between the two nations, Reuters reported.

Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, said the deal includes plans to buy American nuclear fuel and U.S. technology for storing spent fuel at the country’s Russian-built Paks nuclear power plant.

“We will sign a major intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in nuclear energy with my foreign minister colleague [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio,” Szijjártó said.

Why It Matters

The move comes as Hungary seeks to diversify its energy sources while continuing to rely on Russia’s Rosatom, which has been constructing two new reactors at Paks under a 2014 deal that bypassed competitive bidding. Szijjártó said that, for the first time in the nation’s history, Hungary will purchase U.S. nuclear fuel in addition to its existing Russian supply as it works to meet growing domestic energy demands.

What To Know

Trump is meeting Friday with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a longtime ally of the president, for their first bilateral talks since Trump returned to the White House in January. The meeting is expected to focus on Hungary’s heavy reliance on Russian oil and efforts to diversify its energy supply.

Widely considered Putin’s most reliable advocate in the European Union (EU), Orbán has maintained warm relations with the Kremlin despite its ongoing war against Ukraine. He has also curried favor with Trump and his "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement, which views Hungary as a shining example of conservative nationalism despite the erosion of its democratic institutions.

But now, as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches its fourth anniversary, Orbán is under increasing pressure from Brussels and Washington to end Hungary's reliance on Russian oil, a resource seen as critical for funding Moscow's war.

Last month, the Trump administration levied sanctions on Russian state-affiliated energy giants Lukoil and Rosneft that could expose their foreign buyers—like India, China and Hungary—to secondary sanctions.

In comments to state radio last week, Orbán made clear he would try to “make the Americans understand” that Hungary needs a carve out for its continued purchases of Russian energy.

Quote:A Russian drone slammed into a tower block in eastern Ukraine as residents slept early Saturday, killing three and injuring 12 civilians, Ukrainian authorities said.

The blast left a massive hole in the front of the nine-story building, destroying several apartments, with emergency service crews rescuing two children, including a two-year-old, among the wounded.

The attack in Dnipro, Ukraine’s fourth-largest city, was part of a large Russian missile and drone barrage across the war-torn country that also targeted gas and energy infrastructure.

Ukraine’s state-owned power company said all its plants were down Saturday, after what it called Moscow’s “largest-ever attack.”

Drones hit its three plants — in Kyiv, Kharviv and Donetsk — “each minute” overnight.

“Less than a month has passed since the previous strike, and last night the enemy again hit all of our power generation facilities simultaneously,” Centrenergo, which provides electricity to about 10% of Ukraine, wrote on Telegram.

In Kyiv, residents were left without electricity for up to 12 hours a day, as emergency power cuts were introduced.

“The main targets of this strike were our cities, our energy sector and our people,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on X.

“It was a very flagrant and demonstrative strike.”

Russia fired a total of 458 drones and 45 missiles, including 32 ballistic missiles.

Zelensky said only few systems in the world are capable of stopping ballistic missiles.

“We are working with the United States to purchase additional Patriots, and we are very much counting on the support,” he said.

“Weak responses to Russian brazenness spur Russia to continue the war.”

In eastern Ukraine, fighting for the strategic city of Pokrovsk — a focal point in the coveted Donetsk region — has reached a critical stage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims his forces are on the cusp of winning the battleground.

If captured, Pokrovsk would be the largest city taken by Russian forces in more than two years of fighting.

Russian troops have advanced 24 miles into the city, after more than a year of figthing, forcing Ukraine to deploy its elite units last week — leading to intense street-to-street confrotntations that has killed thousands of soldiers.

“The enemy’s number-one goal is to occupy Pokrovsk as quickly as possible. That goal remains,” Zelensly told reporters in Kyiv Friday.

Beyond the battle for territory, Pokrovsk is seen as key in swaying the course of peace negotiations, analysts say, with both Kyiv and Moscow also desperately trying to prove to President Trump they can win the frontline city.

Quote:Russia is exploiting Africa’s poor population to fight its deadly war in Ukraine – many tricked or forced to the front lines through money, lies or threats, officials warn.

At least 1,436 citizens from 36 African countries including Kenya, South Africa and Cameroon, are currently fighting alongside Russian troops, according to Kyiv government leaders.

“Foreign citizens in the Russian army have a sad fate,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on X Friday.

“Most of them are immediately sent to the so-called ‘meat assaults,’ where they are quickly killed.”

The men are lured in with false promises of well-paying jobs, duped by signing agreements in Russian that they can’ read which turn out to be military contracts. And sometimes they are made to sign under duress, Sybiha said.

“Signing a contract is equivalent to signing a death sentence,” he added, urging African governments to warn their citizens.

“There will be no accountability for the killed foreigner, so they are treated as second-rate, expendable human material.

“Most mercenaries do not survive more than a month.”

Evan Kibet, 36, an aspiring long-distance runner from Kenya, said a sports agent offered to fly him and three other Kenyans to St. Petersburg for races.

There, he was told to sign work papers in Russian, before being shoved in a car and driven seven hours to a military camp.

“Either you go to fight or we’ll kill you,” he recalled Russian men telling him, according to BBC.

He was given one week of training on an assault rifle, by instructors who only spoke Russian. He escaped on the way to his first combat mission and hid in the woods near Kharkiv, where he was captured and eventually freed by the Ukrainian military in September.

South Africa is currently investigating how 17 of its citizens ended up fighting in Russia, after the men made distressed calls for help, President Cyril Ramaphosa said this week.

The men, who are between 20 and 39, are caught up in Ukraine’s war-torn Donbas region, and were also lured through lucrative work contracts, according to the South African government.

“President Ramaphosa and the South African government strongly condemn the exploitation of young vulnerable people by individuals working with foreign military entities,” said a government spokesperson.

Quote:A Russian satellite, that previously sparked alarm from NATO member Germany about Moscow’s military intentions in space, is nearing the end of its mission, according to analysis.

Kayhan Space, a Colorado-based firm of spaceflight and satellite experts, said it had found that the Luch-Olymp satellite appears to be maneuvering to an end-of-life orbit.

German defense minister Boris Pistorius said in September that two Russian Luch-Olymp reconnaissance satellites were tracking Intelsat satellites used by the German military. 

But Kayhan Space said one Luch-Olymp was repositioning for its final task, with Kayhan CEO Siamak Hesar, telling Newsweek, “Russia's capability has been reduced, at least for now.”

Why It Matters

There have been growing fears about Russia developing satellites as a new military domain beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, which could complicate NATO’s efforts at deterrence from its adversaries.

Launched in 2014, the Luch-Olymp is one of the most closely watched and debated satellites in geostationary orbit.

Pistorius had raised the alarm at how—along with its 2023 successor—Russian satellites could "eavesdrop" on other satellites, as the minister announced a €35 billion ($41 billion) space program investment for constellations to withstand jamming and kinetic attacks.

What To Know

Kayhan said that over the course of two weeks in October, Russia’s Luch-Olymp satellite initiated a series of altitude-raising burns, climbing more than 260 miles above the protected region and drifting west.

Kayhan said that whether it is intentional disposal or a repositioning for its final tasking, the maneuver "brings one of the most agile and enigmatic intelligence assets ever fielded in geostationary orbit closer to the end of its mission lifetime.”

Over the last decade, the Russian satellite conducted a series of deliberate proximity operations with commercial and military spacecraft, including Seasat 2, Intelsat 7, Intelsat 901, Intelsat 905, Athena-Fidus, Skynet 4C, Astra 1G, and Turksat 4.

Its persistent “shadowing” of targets marked a new era of on-orbit intelligence collection and drew strong criticism from Intelsat and France in actions that reshaped how operators assess safety, intent, and transparency in geostationary orbit, Kayhan said.

Hesar told Newsweek that in the case of its Luch/Olymp class satellites, Russia's capability had been temporarily reduced.

However, he noted how from 2014 to 2023, Russia only operated one Luch/Olymp satellite for intelligence operations. Luch/Olymp 2 is the successor likely intended to replace the original satellite as it neared end of life, Hesar said.

Luch/Olymp 2 appears designed primarily to sustain those capabilities rather than expand them. Whether Russia adds satellites remains to be seen, but at this point, the replacement maintains continuity rather than increasing capacity, he added.