News of the World
07-26-2025, 08:21 AM
USA
Quote:The Trump administration has long insisted that America should not be a haven for criminals. Last week, it brought one home.
Dahud Hanid Ortiz — a Venezuelan-born American citizen and former U.S. Marine convicted of a brutal triple murder in Spain — was among 10 Americans repatriated from Venezuela in a high-profile prisoner exchange between the White House and the South American government.
Ortiz was sentenced to 30 years in prison for a 2016 triple homicide in Madrid, according to Venezuelan and Spanish court records reviewed by Newsweek. Spain requested his extradition, but Venezuela's Constitution bans extraditing its citizens. Instead, he was tried in Venezuela, which permits prosecuting crimes committed abroad.
The Trump administration has not explained how Ortiz ended up on the list of "wrongfully detained" Americans, alongside a group that, according to pro-democracy activists in Venezuela, includes tourists used by Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro as bargaining chips.
When Newsweek reached out to the State Department for comment on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson declined to comment on the specific case of Ortiz and defended the operation: "We were able to secure the release of all Americans detained in Venezuela; many of whom reported being subjected to torture and other harsh conditions."
Why It Matters
Venezuela on Friday released 10 jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents in exchange for the return of dozens of Venezuelan migrants who had been deported in March by the United States to El Salvador under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, officials said.
The Venezuelans had been held in the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT — a massive prison built to detain alleged gang members as part of President Bukele's war on gangs. Trump had invoked the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law, to swiftly deport the men, accusing them of ties to the violent Tren de Aragua street gang.
However, the administration did not provide evidence to back up those claims.
What To Know
In a bitter irony, while the Trump administration has championed the deportation of migrants accused of minor crimes and condemned countries for sheltering fugitives, it repatriated Ortiz as part of a deal it billed as a humanitarian breakthrough.
"We delivered murderers for you," Venezuelan minister Diosdado Cabello told the deportees aboard their flight home. "They were in hell. Today they are in Venezuela."
Spanish media reports first identified one of the men as Ortiz, 51, a fugitive wanted in Spain for one of Madrid's most shocking crimes in recent memory — the grisly murders of two Cuban women and an Ecuadorian man in a law office.
Investigators say Ortiz, driven by jealousy over his ex-partner, stalked her and her new boyfriend, hacked her devices, and planted microphones before traveling to Madrid and killing three innocent people he mistakenly thought were connected to her.
Quote:A California doctor pleaded guilty Wednesday to supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine in the weeks before the actor's fatal overdose. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 43, admitted to four counts of distributing the powerful anesthetic during a hearing in federal court in Los Angeles, becoming the fourth of five individuals charged in connection with Perry's death to enter a guilty plea.
Plasencia had previously pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to stand trial in August but agreed last month to a plea deal that includes the dismissal of three additional distribution charges and two counts of falsifying records. Standing beside his attorney, Plasencia answered brief questions from U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, confirming his legal team had reviewed all plea and sentencing options.
"Dr. Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry," the doctor's attorney, Debra White, said in an emailed statement after the hearing. "He is fully accepting responsibility by pleading guilty to drug distribution. Dr. Plasencia intends to voluntarily surrender his medical license, acknowledging his failure to protect Mr. Perry, a patient who was especially vulnerable due to addiction."
How did Matthew Perry die?
Matthew Perry, 54, was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident caused primarily by the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning and coronary artery disease also contributing factors.
What was Matthew Perry's cause of death?
The official autopsy identified the cause of death as "acute effects of ketamine," noting that Perry had high levels of the drug in his system, which triggered cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression, ultimately leading to drowning.
Prosecutors noted in court that Plasencia did not provide the final dose that killed Perry but admitted to regularly supplying him with ketamine in the month before his death.
According to court documents, he provided Perry with 20 vials of ketamine totaling 100 mg, along with lozenges and syringes. He also enlisted another physician, Dr. Mark Chavez, to assist in the scheme. In one text message, Plasencia referred to Perry as a "moron" and said, "I wonder how much this moron will pay," as noted in Chavez's plea agreement. After selling the drugs for $4,500, Plasencia reportedly asked Chavez if they could continue the arrangement and become Perry's "go-to" ketamine providers.
Who was charged related to Matthew Perry's death?
Five individuals have been charged in connection with providing the fatal doses of ketamine: two doctors, Perry's personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, a supplier named Erik Fleming, and Jasveen Sangha (dubbed the "Ketamine Queen").
So far, four have pleaded guilty—including Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who admitted to illegally distributing ketamine to Perry in the month before his death—while Sangha has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
Quote:The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday delivered another victory to President Donald Trump, allowing his administration to remove three Democratic members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), marking Trump's 16th consecutive win before the High Court.
Why It Matters
The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has granted a slew of Trump's requests filed through the emergency docket since the president took office in January.
Among other things, the court has handed the administration wins on its efforts to shrink the size of the federal government, immigration enforcement, deportations, scaling back legal protections for transgender people, removing independent government watchdogs and more.
What To Know
On Wednesday, the court granted an emergency request from the Department of Justice to overturn a lower-court ruling reinstating the three Democratic members of the CPSC. The DOJ argued in its request that as the head of the executive branch, the president has the authority to remove agency commissioners without cause.
The three liberal justices dissented, echoing concerns raised by U.S. District Judge Matthew Maddox, who had ruled in June that the dismissals were unlawful.
Maddox, who was appointed to the court by President Joe Biden, emphasized the CPSC's role as a semi-independent body tasked with protecting consumers through recalls, litigation and safety regulations. He had sought to distinguish the commission's duties from those of other federal agencies where the Court has upheld similar firings.
Justice Elena Kagan, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, was particularly sharp in her dissent Wednesday, saying that the High Court's ruling nearly overturned the precedent set by the 1935 case Humphrey's Executor v. United States. The court ruled in that case that the Constitution allows Congress to make laws limiting the president's power to fire some executive branch officials who are part of an independent agency.
Kagan was joined in her dissent by the court's other two liberal justices, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor.
The Supreme Court has not formally overturned the 90-year-old precedent, but Kagan wrote: "On the Court's emergency docket—which means 'on a short fuse without benefit of full briefing and oral argument'—the majority has effectively expunged Humphrey's from the U.S."
Quote:A federal appeals court delivered a win to MyPillow founder Mike Lindell on Wednesday, ruling he does not have to pay a $5 million award to a software engineer who challenged Lindell's claims that China interfered in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals found that an arbitration panel exceeded its authority in awarding the money to Robert Zeidman, a Las Vegas-based engineer who participated in Lindell's 2021 "Prove Mike Wrong Challenge."
Why It Matters
Lindell, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, has been a leading voice in promoting claims that the 2020 election was rigged, despite more than 50 failed court challenges from Trump allies and clear statements from Trump's own Justice Department rejecting widespread fraud.
What To Know
As part of a "Cyber Symposium" Lindell hosted in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he promised $5 million to anyone who could prove that the packet capture data he released was not from the 2020 election. Zeidman submitted a 15-page report debunking the data and, after contest officials refused to declare him the winner, he filed for arbitration. A panel of three arbitrators—including one chosen by Lindell—ruled in Zeidman's favor and awarded the $5 million. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim later upheld the decision, despite calling the contest rules a "poorly written contract."
However, the appeals court disagreed. In its ruling, the 8th Circuit said the arbitrators strayed beyond the contract's clear terms.
"Whatever one might think of the logic of the panel's reasoning, it is contrary to Minnesota law. ... Fair or not, agreed-to contract terms may not be modified by the panel or by this court," the court wrote. The case was remanded to the lower court with instructions to vacate the award.
"It's a great day for our country," Lindell said in an interview following the decision. "This is a big win. It opens the door to getting rid of these electronic voting machines and getting paper ballots, hand-counted."
Zeidman's attorney, Brian Glasser, criticized the ruling and encouraged the public to evaluate the original arbitration decision for themselves.
The ruling comes amid a string of legal battles for Lindell. Just last month, a Colorado jury found him liable for defaming a former voting machine company employee by accusing him of treason, awarding $2.3 million in damages.
Quote:President Donald Trump's administration was dealt a new legal loss by a federal appeals court over his executive order regarding birthright citizenship on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit marked a significant setback for President Trump's efforts to redefine U.S. citizenship rules. Trump's executive action seeks to prevent children born on U.S. soil from automatically receiving citizenship if neither parent was an American citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of birth.
Wednesday's decision from the appeals court reinforced the 14th Amendment's long-standing interpretation making birthright citizenship accessible to nearly all individuals born in the U.S., regardless of their parents' legal status.
What To Know
The appeals court ruled on Wednesday that Trump's executive order is unconstitutional and upheld a lower-court decision that blocked its nationwide enforcement.
Judge Ronald Gould, writing the opinion for the court, said Trump's executive order "contradicts the plain language of the Fourteenth Amendment's grant of citizenship."
The ruling added: "The district court correctly concluded that the Executive Order's proposed interpretation, denying citizenship to many persons born in the United States, is unconstitutional. We fully agree."
Wednesday's ruling was 2-1, with two judges appointed by President Bill Clinton forming the majority, while one judge appointed by Trump dissented.
In an executive order posted on the day Trump was inaugurated, the president said that "the Fourteenth Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States. The Fourteenth Amendment has always excluded from birthright citizenship persons who were born in the United States but not 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof.'"
Quote:Democratic mayoral primary winner and New York state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani was issued a stark warning by Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Wednesday, saying that if Mamdani's supporters spout antisemitic rhetoric, "you can't leave room for that to just sit there. You've got to condemn that."
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The rebuke arrives at a pivotal moment not just for Mamdani's campaign, but as Democrats nationwide wrestle with internal divisions over Israel policy, rising anti-Jewish hate and endorsement strategies, all holding significance for the 2026 midterm cycle. Jewish communities and party leaders are watching these developments closely as political rhetoric and policy stances on antisemitism become central campaign issues.
Mamdani's surge has intensified debate within the Democratic Party over its future direction, as his platform sharply contrasts with those of more centrist and establishment-aligned figures.
Unlike establishment Democrats—who have historically championed incremental reforms and avoided expansive tax policies targeting high-earners—Mamdani has proposed increasing taxes on residents earning more than $1 million annually, raising corporate tax rates and implementing a citywide rent freeze. These positions are central to his campaign, which he has framed around affordability, housing justice and public investment in services such as free child care and public transportation.
As Mamdani awaits critical Democratic backing, he sat down with business leaders this month, where he said he would discourage the phrase "globalize the intifada," according to The New York Times, citing three people familiar with discussions.
What To Know
While speaking to Jewish Insider, Shapiro took a swipe at Mamdani, saying, "He seemed to run a campaign that excited New Yorkers. He also seemed to run a campaign where he left open far too much space for extremists to either use his words or for him to not condemn the words of extremists that said some blatantly antisemitic things."
The assemblyman and democratic socialist has yet to secure key backing from Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also of New York, ahead of the November election.
The Democratic governor said he is "concerned that support for Israel in the United States broadly is down compared to what it was a decade ago." He later added that "There are policies of the [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government that I don't support. I've been very vocal about that. But there's a difference between not supporting the policies of whoever's in charge at a particular time, and the underlying notion of a Jewish state of Israel."
"I do think it is important to strengthen people's understanding of Israel and the relationship America should have with Israel and to strengthen that bond," Shapiro said.
The governor also handed out a piece of advice to Mamdani and any future leader: "You have to speak and act with moral clarity, and when supporters of yours say things that are blatantly antisemitic, you can't leave room for that to just sit there. You've got to condemn that."
Previously, Mamdani seemingly defended the phrase "globalize the intifada" as "a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights." He has also called antisemitism a "real issue" in New York City and said Hamas' attack of Israel on October 7, 2023, was a "war crime."
Quote:Former U.S. President Barack Obama has been the subject of online death threats and calls for imprisonment after President Donald Trump and the director of national intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard accused him of treason regarding Russian influence in previous presidential elections.
According to a report by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE), social media comments calling for Obama's imprisonment or execution surged between July 17 and July 20, after the administration claimed Obama's administration "manipulated and withheld" key information on the extent to which Russia was involved in the 2016 election. Obama has denied the allegations.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek: "President Trump and the entire administration strongly condemn all forms of violence. The Trump administration also believes in accountability and that individuals who participate in criminal activity should be held to the fullest extent of the law."
A DNI spokesperson said: "DNI Gabbard strongly condemns all forms of violence. The Director also believes in shining light on the truth, investigating wrongdoing, and holding those who participate in criminal activities accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
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The threats started after Gabbard released a report on Friday alleging that Obama and members of his administration manufactured intelligence regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election to "lay the groundwork for what was essentially a yearslong coup against President Trump."
She said she would refer the officials to the Justice Department for prosecution.
Then on Sunday Trump weighed in and posted an AI-generated video to his social media platform, Truth Social, which showed Obama being arrested and put in jail.
Since then, between July 17 and July 20, comments targeting Obama have surged on Truth Social, Gab and Telegram, the researchers found.
On Truth Social, comments made calling Obama treasonous and deserving of either imprisonment or execution rose from three to 36, an 1,100 percent increase.
On Gab, these comments increased from nine to 48—a 433 percent increase.
And on Telegram, comments of this ilk increased from zero to 12.
GPAHE told Newsweek: "GPAHE's research continues to show a spike in online bigoted and violent rhetoric whenever the president targets people with his online posts. The combination of Director Gabbard's and President Trump's conspiracy-laden and racist posts, not only inflamed extremists, but further normalized language and ideas that are completely unacceptable in a thriving democracy. We, as a nation, cannot contribute to this normalization by staying silent."
Since the time period the researchers investigated, Trump has continued to make comments about Obama. On Tuesday, he called the former president "the leader of the gang" when it came to the Russia investigation.
He said: "He's guilty. This was treason. This was every word you can think of. They tried to steal the election. They tried to obfuscate the election. They did things that nobody's ever even imagined."
He added that it was "time to go after people," and accused other political opponents including former CIA director John Brennan of unlawfully conspiring against him.
Later that day, Obama's office released a statement rebutting the allegations, which they called "outrageous."
Quote:Senator Ron Wyden, the most senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, has written to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging her to "follow the money" and launch a fresh investigation into the financial affairs of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein using Treasury Department documents.
In his letter sent on Monday, Wyden said the Department of Justice (DOJ) "failed to conduct a real investigation into the funding of Epstein's sex trafficking operation" and accused four major banks of processing "billions in suspicious transactions that flowed through Epstein's accounts" that were not flagged to the Treasury until after the financier's suicide in August 2019.
Speaking to Newsweek, a DOJ spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter but declined to comment further. Newsweek contacted Senator Wyden on Thursday via email and online inquiry form respectively outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Earlier this month the DOJ and the FBI released a joint statement insisting Epstein "died by suicide" and had "no incriminating 'client list.'" The move sparked a furious reaction from a section of President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) base, which has long believed Epstein was murdered to cover up the participation of prominent figures in sexual abuse.
Wyden's letter shows the Trump administration will continue to face intense pressure to further investigate the Epstein case, or release documents it has concerning this, despite its apparent efforts to close down the subject.
What To Know
Addressing Attorney General Bondi in his letter Wyden said he was "convinced that the DOG ignored evidence found in the U.S. Treasury Department's Epstein file," which he said "contains extensive details on the mountains of cash Epstein received from prominent business owners that Epstein used to finance his criminal network."
In response to what he termed "the DOJ's lack of thoroughness" Wyden provided Bondi with "a road map with a list of 'follow the money' leads on Jeffrey Epstein."
Wyden noted the Senate Finance Committee on February 14 2024 reviewed "thousands of page[s] of Treasury Department files documenting the flow of money in and out of Jeffrey Epstein's accounts" which he concluded "contains significant information on the sources of funding behind Epstein's sex trafficking activities." He said this included documents showing more than 4,725 wire transfers involving Epstein's accounts from 2003 to 2019 totaling $1.08 billion.
Quote:UnitedHealth Group has said it is under investigation by the Department of Justice, which is probing its involvement in Medicare, a federal health insurance program for those over 65 and people with disabilities.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Justice for comment.
UnitedHealth runs one of the nation's largest health insurance and pharmacy benefits management businesses. It also operates a growing Optum business that provides care and technology support.
It has come under intense scrutiny in recent months, as its profits soared amid controversy over its health insurance practices, a painful financial burden on many Americans, a large number of whom feel that the whole system is designed to take advantage of them.
Fraud Investigation, CEO Murder
Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal said federal officials had launched a civil fraud investigation into how the company records diagnoses that lead to extra payments for its Medicare Advantage, or MA, plans.
The CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan in December 2024 on his way to the company's annual investor meeting. The alleged shooter, Luigi Mangione, is on trial. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
UnitedHealth Group SEC Filing
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), UnitedHealth Group stated that it had "proactively reached out to the Department of Justice after reviewing media reports about investigations into certain aspects of the Company's participation in the Medicare program."
"The Company has now begun complying with formal criminal and civil requests from the Department," the company said in its filing on Thursday morning, July 24, adding that it "has full confidence in its practices and is committed to working cooperatively with the Department throughout this process."
UnitedHealth Group said it "has a long record of responsible conduct and effective compliance," and that "following a decade-long civil challenge by the Department to aspects of our Medicare Advantage business, a court-appointed Special Master concluded there was no evidence to support claims of wrongdoing."
UnitedHealth Revenues Rise, Shares Fall
Company shares were down nearly 4 percent, or $11.51, to $281.12 before markets opened Thursday.
But UnitedHealth raked in more than $400 billion in revenue last year as the third-largest company in the Fortune 500. Last year, its share price reached a new all-time high of over $630 before the recent declines.
The company's UnitedHealthcare business covers more than 8 million people, making it the nation's largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. The business has been under pressure in recent quarters due to rising care use and rate cuts.
Quote:Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man at the center of a long-running legal and political controversy over U.S. immigration enforcement, must be released from custody and returned to Maryland, two federal judges ruled Wednesday in separate decisions.
The decisions come after months of legal battles following Abrego's controversial removal to El Salvador in March, a deportation that the U.S. Supreme Court later determined to be unlawful.
Late on Wednesday, in a third ruling, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes delayed Abrego's release from custody for 30 days, following a request from his attorneys. They cited government advice that the Department of Homeland Security would begin removal proceedings if he were released.
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The orders from U.S. District Judges Waverly Crenshaw Jr. and Paula Xinis mark a significant turning point in the case. The orders are the latest developments in a high-profile saga involving immigration, criminal proceedings, and alleged violations of constitutional rights. While the decisions represent a significant legal victory for Abrego, federal immigration authorities have signaled that efforts to deport him may soon resume.
What To Know
Abrego, who entered the U.S. without authorization over a decade ago, was living and working in Maryland under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) supervision order when he was detained and deported to El Salvador on March 12, 2025.
The deportation directly violated a standing immigration court order from 2019 that prohibited his removal to El Salvador due to credible fears for his safety there.
After being expelled, Abrego was held at El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, a prison known for violence and overcrowding.
His removal prompted legal challenges that reached the Supreme Court, which found the deportation violated both the Immigration and Nationality Act and Abrego's constitutional right to due process.
Following the ruling, the federal government delayed for nearly three months before returning Abrego to the U.S. in June.
Upon arrival, he was placed in U.S. Marshals custody to face unrelated criminal charges in Tennessee.
On Wednesday, Judge Crenshaw, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, ruled that Abrego should be released on bail while awaiting trial in the Middle District of Tennessee, finding that prosecutors had not demonstrated that he posed a flight risk or danger to the community.
Crenshaw noted that although the government accused Abrego of immigrant smuggling involving a minor, he had been cooperative when stopped by law enforcement in 2022 and had not attempted to flee.
Judge Xinis, acting in a civil case brought by Abrego and his family over his deportation, ruled to both restore Abrego to his pre-deportation immigration status and protect his due process rights if officials attempt to remove him from the U.S. again. Her ruling criticized government attorneys and ICE officials for failing to prepare adequately for court proceedings and for offering limited details about possible third-country removal options.
The court noted that although DHS has existing diplomatic agreements with countries like Mexico and South Sudan to accept deportees, no specific plans had been confirmed for Abrego. Nor had federal officials explained what process would be available to him in the event of a third-country removal.
The court's ruling underscores that any further attempts to remove Abrego must begin in Maryland, where jurisdiction over his original immigration case lies. Officials had previously indicated that any removal proceedings could be initiated wherever ICE found space to detain him, raising concerns about due process and judicial oversight.
Tennessee U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes has delayed the release of alleged MS-13 member Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody for thirty days.
His attorneys requested the delay on Monday, citing advice from the government that the Department of Homeland Security would initiate removal proceedings if he were released.
Quote:California Governor Gavin Newsom has decried a court's decision striking down a voter-backed California law that required background checks for people who buy bullets.
In a 2-1 decision on Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit found that the law violated the Second Amendment. The ruling upheld a lower court's decision from last year.
Newsom called the decision a "slap in the face to the progress California has made in recent years to keep its communities safer from gun violence."
He added that Californians "voted to require background checks on ammunition and their voices should matter."
Why It Matters
The law took effect in 2019 after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative on the issue in 2016 and after the state legislature passed a bill changing requirements for buying ammunition.
The law was intended to help police find people who have guns illegally, such as convicted felons, people with certain mental illnesses and people with some domestic violence convictions. Sometimes they order kits online and assemble guns in their home. The guns don't have serial numbers and are difficult for law enforcement to track, but the people who own them show up in background checks when they try to buy bullets.
What To Know
Judge Sandra Segal Ikuta wrote for the majority that the law "meaningfully constrains" the constitutional right to keep arms by forcing gun owners to get rechecked before each purchase of bullets.
"The right to keep and bear arms incorporates the right to operate them, which requires ammunition," Ikuta wrote.
In his dissent, judge Jay Bybee argued that the law creates only minor hurdles to legal purchases of ammunition, and that it does not "meaningfully constrain" the right to bear arms.
All three judges on the panel were appointed by Republican presidents.
Last year, U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez decided that the law was unconstitutional because if people can't buy bullets, they can't use their guns for self-defense.
The law remained in effect while the state appealed the lower court's decision.
Quote:The Department of Justice has sued New York Mayor Eric Adams, challenging local "sanctuary" policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
It wants New York City's sanctuary policies to be declared unconstitutional, saying they impede the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has viewed sanctuary cities and states as obstacles to immigration enforcement operations, with local police not involved in ICE activity. Sanctuary laws are designed to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. These laws seek to protect immigrants in the country illegally by restricting the sharing of personal information with federal authorities and preventing local law enforcement from assisting in immigration arrests. Critics argue that sanctuary laws impede immigration enforcement operations.
What To Know
In the lawsuit, the federal government is seeking to have the court declare New York City's sanctuary policies unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause and to issue an injunction preventing the city from enforcing its limited-cooperation provisions.
"Some of these aliens find safe havens from federal law enforcement detection in so-called 'sanctuary' cities, where they are shielded among innocent Americans—who, all too often, later become their crime victim," the DOJ wrote in its complaint.
The complaint was brought in the Eastern District of New York and names Adams' administration as the defendant.
The DOJ's complaint says that New York City's refusal to hold individuals beyond their scheduled release time at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with its prohibition on sharing release or incarceration information without a state court warrant or a conviction for a serious crime, directly conflicts with federal immigration statutes and the authority of the executive branch.
New York first implemented limited-cooperation policies in 2013, expanded them in 2014 and 2017, and solidified them further through Executive Order 50, signed in 2022. These measures restrict local law enforcement and correctional facilities from cooperating with federal immigration authorities in most cases.
Under the law, the city is permitted to honor detention requests only for individuals convicted of "violent or serious" crimes—a list that includes more than 170 offenses, such as rape and murder. Additionally, ICE must provide a warrant signed by a federal judge with each request in order for it to be considered.
"New York City has released thousands of criminals on the streets to commit violent crimes against law-abiding citizens due to sanctuary city policies," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "If New York City won't stand up for the safety of its citizens, we will."
In the early days of Trump's second term, Adams appeared to strike an informal agreement with the White House. He appeared on Fox News alongside border czar Tom Homan, pledging to cooperate with ICE on targeting serious criminal immigrants. However, publicly, he has maintained he only backs the arrest of serious criminals.
Quote:Three former Department of Justice (DOJ) officials, including Michael Gordon who prosecuted a number of January 6 cases, have filed a lawsuit against the department and Attorney General Pam Bondi alleging they were improperly fired by the Trump administration after it took office in January.
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After Donald Trump was inaugurated as president for the second time on January 20, dozens of DOJ employees were fired, including a number of prosecutors who had worked on criminal cases against either Trump or those of his supporters arrested after the January 6 2021 Capitol Hill riot.
If some of these firings are ruled unlawful in court, it would be a significant blow to the Trump administration, which has already lost court cases concerning sanctions it imposed on law firms that were involved in legal action against Trump.
What To Know
The lawsuit from three former Justice Department employees was filed on Thursday with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, against the DOJ, Bondi and the White House.
In addition to Gordon, the case was filed by Joseph Tirrell, formerly director of the DOJ's Ethics Office, and public affairs expert Patty Hartman who according to CBS News was involved in crafting press releases related to January 6 prosecutions. Gordon, Tirrell and Hartman are seeking reinstatement to the DOJ, and back pay.
According to the lawsuit all three were informed they had been fired via one-page documents signed by Bondi that didn't give any specific reasons for their loss of employment. This "came as a particular shock" to Gordon according to the filing as he was working on a fraud case involving a Florida man who allegedly stole millions of dollars from children with special needs.
The court filing said that, under normal circumstances, Tirrell, Hartman and Gordon would have appealed their dismissals to the Merit Systems Protection Board, a federal agency, but felt this was "futile" after Trump weakened the body by firing a board member.
In the lawsuit, Tirell also said his firing failed to take account of his membership of the Senior Executive Service, giving him extra employment protection, due to his naval service.
The suit read: "Specifically, it is a Prohibited Personnel Practice to 'knowingly take, recommend, or approve any personnel action if the taking of such action would violate a veterans' preference requirement."
INTERNATIONAL
Quote:European and Iranian diplomats have arrived in Istanbul in a renewed effort to resolve the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program. The talks mark the first formal engagement since June's 12-day war between Iran and Israel, a conflict that included U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and heightened tensions across the region.
The discussions come as the UK, France, and Germany—collectively known as the E3—consider triggering a "snapback" mechanism that would reimpose UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear accord. In a bid to de-escalate, the E3 are floating a temporary extension of the sanctions deadline, contingent on Iranian commitments to diplomacy and international nuclear oversight.
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The outcome of the Istanbul talks could determine whether the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has any future. The U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term. Since then, Iran has expanded its uranium enrichment, prompting alarm in some Western capitals and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The "snapback" of sanctions would isolate Iran further, risk collapse of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and possibly accelerate regional instability. Yet a successful diplomatic turn could restore limited trust and reduce the likelihood of further conflict.
What To Know
Western diplomats say a delay in triggering "snapback" is possible—if Iran resumes full cooperation with the IAEA and engages credibly in talks. European leaders have warned that sanctions will return by the end of August if no progress is made. Officials say Iran must also address the status of over 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, a level just below weapons-grade.
Tehran's Distrust
Iran has conditioned its participation on what it calls "key principles," including guarantees against U.S. and Israeli military action during talks. Tehran suspended cooperation with the IAEA following the recent strikes and insists that its uranium enrichment is peaceful and within legal bounds.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, in a lengthy post in Farsi on X, emphasized that rebuilding trust in U.S. intentions is essential and outlined the principles guiding Tehran's engagement. Meanwhile, President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran is "prepared for another war," while reiterating its program is compliant with international law.
Quote:Russia has launched a new Iranian communications satellite into orbit with one of its Soyuz rockets.
It is another symbol of deepening strategic cooperation between Russia and Iran, a point of concern for U.S.-led Western allies.
The rocket lifted off from the Vostochny launchpad in far eastern Russia, carrying two Russian Ionosphere-M Earth observation satellites, along with Iran's Nahid-2 satellite and 17 smaller Russian satellites.
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The launch underscores deepening technological ties between Russia and Iran amid rising Western pressure on both countries. It also signals Tehran's continued progress in satellite technology, despite longstanding concerns in the West that advances in its civilian space program may enhance its ballistic missile capabilities.
The timing of the launch—just hours before European nations met with Iranian officials to resume nuclear talks—may also be seen as a calculated show of strength. These negotiations come at a particularly fraught moment, following a 12-day conflict triggered by Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.
What to Know
The Nahid-2 satellite is the latest in a series of Iranian space projects. Iran's state broadcaster described it as a communications satellite entirely designed and manufactured domestically.
It was launched aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The 110-kilogram (242-pound) Iranian satellite is supposed to circle the Earth on a 500-kilometer (310-mile) orbit and has a service lifetime of two years.
How Has the West Responded?
Western governments have long raised alarms over Iran's space program, suggesting its technological gains could be repurposed for ballistic missile development. The dual-use nature of satellite launch vehicles has been cited as a particular area of concern by officials in Washington and Europe.
Earlier this week, Iran tested its own Qased satellite launch rocket, marking a new phase in its space program. State media described the launch as an effort to assess "emerging new technologies" and improve the performance of future satellite systems.
Quote:Hamas has pushed back against remarks by U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, who criticized the group's stance in ongoing ceasefire talks and said negotiators were pulling out from Qatar on Thursday.
In a statement, Hamas expressed "surprise" at Witkoff's "negative" comments, saying that mediators had welcomed its "constructive and positive" position.
...
The deadlock in ceasefire talks has dealt a major blow to hopes of an imminent ceasefire for Gaza and is a setback for months of diplomatic efforts, including those by Egypt and Qatar. Washington blames Hamas for prolonging the war and obstructing humanitarian aid.
Gaza's humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, putting pressure on Israel. If negotiations collapse entirely, hopes for releasing remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza diminish further.
What To Know
U.S. and Israeli delegations recalled their negotiating teams from Doha following Hamas's response to a proposal that included a 60-day truce, phased hostages release, and humanitarian aid entry.
Witkoff, appointed by President Donald Trump, criticized Hamas for a lack of "good faith" in the negotiations. It remains unclear which sticking points in the negotiations led to the rift. Hamas, on the other hand, contradicted the "negative" comments from the U.S. envoy, saying that their position in the talks was positive, constructive and supported by the other mediators.
The war has been fought since Hamas' October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed some 1,200 Israelis and with around 250 kidnapped into Gaza. Israel is now expanding ground operations and airstrikes across the strip and had killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza-run health ministry. Nearly 900 Israeli soldiers have been killed, according to the military. Some 20 hostages are believed to be still alive.
Quote:Voters in cities and counties across Taiwan will head to the polls Saturday in what local media are calling the "Great Recall."
At stake are the jobs of nearly two dozen legislators and several local leaders—along with the island's political balance of power, which could significantly impact Taiwan's relationship with China.
Proponents have framed the recall as a means of breaking the legislative gridlock. Critics have slammed it as an abuse of the democratic process.
Why It Matters
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) retained the presidency with Lai Ching-te's victory in January 2024, but lost its majority in Taiwan's 113-seat legislature. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT)—which favors closer engagement with China—and its junior partner, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), have since used their majority to push through a series of parliamentary reforms and enact budget freezes, including cuts to major defense projects.
Critics accuse the opposition of obstructing government policy and weakening Taiwan's hand against China, which claims the self-ruled island as its territory and has not ruled out unification by force. Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan in recent years and this has only escalated since the inauguration of Lai, whom Beijing considers a "separatist."
What To Know
Saturday's recall election, spearheaded by DPP officials and affiliated grassroots organizations, targets 22 lawmakers from the KMT, one from the TPP, and two mayors.
A recall succeeds if over 25 percent of eligible voters participate and a majority votes to remove the official. Those recalled cannot run again in the same district for four years.
With the KMT holding a slim legislative majority, just six or seven successful recalls could tip the balance and give the DPP renewed control in the 113-seat Legislative Yuan. The KMT describes the campaign as an abuse of democratic process, while the DPP says it's a constitutional right for citizens.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office has denounced the recalls in previous statements, while Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council has accused Beijing of trying to influence the outcome.
The vote could reshape Taiwan's politics and signal how the island will respond to Chinese pressure. If the DPP regains control of the legislature, Beijing may retaliate with a show of force, such as the three large scale military drills it has staged since Lai took office.
Quote:Vietnam will purchase helicopters from the United States for its police force, as Hanoi—historically reliant on Russian weaponry—deepens its partnership with Washington.
A Reuters report also stated that Vietnam's Defense Ministry is negotiating with Lockheed Martin over the purchase of C-130 military transport aircraft.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department referred Newsweek to the government of Vietnam regarding the Southeast Asian country's equipment procurement. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
Why It Matters
Vietnam and the United States—former adversaries during the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975—have been expanding their defense cooperation since Washington lifted its arms sales ban in 2016, after which Hanoi acquired U.S. coast guard vessels and training aircraft.
Prior to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia was a major weapons supplier to Vietnam. However, the Southeast Asian country is now diversifying its arms sources and enhancing domestic weapons production, creating opportunities for American defense firms.
Earlier in July, President Donald Trump announced a trade agreement with Vietnam, under which U.S. goods exported to the Vietnamese market will face zero tariffs. Choosing American defense equipment may also help narrow the U.S. trade deficit with Vietnam.
What To Know
Citing people with knowledge of the talks, Reuters reported on Thursday that Vietnam's Public Security Ministry has agreed to acquire two helicopters from Lockheed Martin as Vietnamese pilots have been training with the U.S. defense giant's S-92 helicopters.
According to Lockheed Martin, this type of helicopter is capable of performing a range of missions, including offshore energy transport, search and rescue, and airline operations. A total of 28 countries operate the S-92 helicopter for both civilian and military purposes.
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9
Maranatha!
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My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
Maranatha!
The Internet might be either your friend or enemy. It just depends on whether or not she has a bad hair day.
My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
