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Quote:A Rhode Island state prosecutor was put on unpaid leave for six months after she was captured on police body camera footage warning one of the officers who were arresting her on a trespassing charge that he was “gonna regret it.”
Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan was given the punishment Monday. It stemmed from her Aug. 14 trespassing arrest outside of a restaurant in Newport, the state attorney general, Peter Neronha, said Tuesday.
“We hold our attorneys to the highest personal and professional standards, and Ms. Flanagan plainly did not meet those standards here,” Neronha said in a news release.
Neronha met with the officers involved in Flanagan’s arrest on Monday and apologized, said Tim Rondeau, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office. Flanagan also sent apology letters to the individual officers, he said.
Flanagan and a friend were arrested after they were asked to leave the Clarke Cooke House and refused, according to police.
The police footage shows Flanagan asking an officer multiple times to turn off his body camera and then repeatedly saying “I’m an AG.”
It shows the officers approaching someone from the restaurant and asking if “they want them trespassed.” The person clasps his hands and responds saying, “Trespass, yeah. Cuff ’em, please.”
When the officer says Flanagan and people who were with her are trespassing, she says “We’re not trespassing, you haven’t notified us that we’re trespassing.”
“What did I just say to you? You’re trespassing,” says the officer, who is not identified in the video.
“I’m an AG. I’m an AG,” Flanagan later says.
“Good for you,” the officer says.
Eventually, Flanagan is put in a patrol vehicle and says, “Buddy, you’re gonna regret this. You’re gonna regret it.”
In Rhode Island, a conviction for misdemeanor willful trespass is punishable by up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. It is unclear whether, if convicted, Flanagan would still be able to work in the attorney general’s office.
Quote:America's largest charitable organisation, The Gates Foundation, has reportedly stopped providing grants to a non-profit network associated with the Democratic Party. This move could prove to be a significant blow to a powerful player in liberal politics, according to a report. An internal foundation announcement reviewed by The New York Times (NYT) suggests that Mark Suzman, the CEO of the charitable organisation started by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda Gates, decided to stop all grants to non-profit funds managed by the consulting firm Arabella Advisors in June. This decision has also caused unease within the world of progressive philanthropy, the report noted.
What the Gates Foundation said about cutting ties with Arabella Advisors
In the internal document, the Gates Foundation wrote: “Teams are increasingly working directly with programmatic partners — organisations that are deeply embedded in the communities we serve and closely aligned with our mission. As we look ahead, this is a chance to build deeper, more durable relationships with those partners — and to reinforce the kind of legacy we want to leave behind.”
However, the Gates Foundation's internal announcement from June did not mention politics; instead, it cited a desire to work directly with grant recipients and reduce the use of intermediaries. Arabella Advisors is also known for managing "dark money" funds that support Democrats and the progressive movement.
As per the report, some nonprofits that work with Arabella are now attempting to distance themselves from the company to maintain their relationship with the Gates Foundation, which has given or pledged nearly $450 million to Arabella-administered funds over the past 16 years.
The Gates Foundation, which has gradually been shifting away from intermediaries, plans to increase direct giving as it works to spend down its $77 billion endowment by 2045.
Arabella, employing over 400 staff, manages funds that provide back-office support to nonprofits, some of which are engaged in political activities, such as voter registration and Democratic super PAC donations. Critics argue it wields outsized influence, though Arabella insists it simply offers operational support to philanthropic clients.
The Gates Foundation was an early backer of Arabella’s New Venture Fund. Still, by 2023, its contributions made up only 2% of the fund’s revenue, as the fund had significantly diversified its donor base.
Quote:A resident of Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday rejected Democrats’ narrative that crime has gone down in her city and instead praised President Donald Trump’s idea to deploy the National Guard.
Ameenah Haqque told CNN law enforcement correspondent Whitney Wild that Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson should “be on board” with Trump’s plan to combat crime. While Wild insisted that crime had dropped, Haqque assured the reporter that she and others in the city do not “at all” feel safer.
“The crime has dropped since 2024, do you feel like the city feels safer?” Wild asked.
“No, not at all,” Haqque replied. “No, especially with the police being defunded.”
Trump confirmed on Friday that his administration is considering sending the National Guard to combat crime in Chicago once he is finished cleaning up Washington, D.C.
“Chicago is a mess. You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent, and we’ll straighten that one out probably next, that will be our next one after this, and it won’t even be tough. And the people in Chicago, Mr. Vice President, are screaming for us to come,” Trump said in the Oval Office.
The number of homicides in Chicago reached a 25-year high in 2021, and have remained significantly higher than the numbers recorded in the last decade, The Chicago Tribune reported. Aside from June 2014, no other single month of June has had fewer than 40 murders in Chicago since at least 1970, according to WTTW, a PBS affiliate.
There have currently been 262 homicides in Chicago as of Aug. 26, which is 117 fewer incidents in comparison to 2024, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Pritzker and Johnson have accused Trump of spreading misinformation about crime in Chicago and begged for him to stay out of the city during a Monday press conference. In an attempt to convince Americans that Chicago is not a “hellhole,” Pritzker took a video of a noticeably low-crime area of the city and posted it to his X account.
Johnson and the governor also stated that Trump’s potential deployment of the National Guard would be a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Quote:A NEW study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai adds to growing evidence that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen (paracetamol) may be linked to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The research is the first to apply the rigorous Navigation Guide methodology to systematically evaluate the scientific literature on this topic. The team analyzed 46 studies involving more than 100,000 participants across multiple countries and found that higher-quality studies were more likely to report a connection between prenatal acetaminophen use and elevated risks of autism and ADHD.
“Given the widespread use of this medication, even a small increase in risk could have major public health implications,” said lead author Diddier Prada, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Population Health Science and Policy, Environmental Medicine, and Climate Science at Mount Sinai.
Acetaminophen is the most commonly used pain and fever reliever during pregnancy, with more than half of expectant mothers worldwide relying on it. While long considered the safest option, the Mount Sinai-led analysis highlights potential biological mechanisms behind the risk. These include the drug’s ability to cross the placental barrier, trigger oxidative stress, disrupt hormones, and cause epigenetic changes that may affect fetal brain development.
The researchers emphasized that their findings do not prove causation but strengthen the evidence for an association. They recommend cautious, time-limited use of acetaminophen during pregnancy under medical supervision, along with updated clinical guidelines and further research to confirm the risks and explore safer alternatives.
“Pregnant women should not stop taking medication without consulting their doctors,” Dr. Prada cautioned. “Our study underscores the importance of carefully weighing the benefits and risks with health care providers.”
The study, conducted in collaboration with UCLA, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has broad implications for clinical practice and public health policy, as autism and ADHD diagnoses continue to rise globally.
Reference
Prada D et al. Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders using the Navigation Guide methodology. Environ Health. 2025;DOI: 10.1186/s12940-025-01208-0.
Quote:Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser initially expressed fear of President Donald Trump’s plan to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital, but its clear success made her change her mind.
After Trump announced his plans to deploy National Guard troops and assume oversight of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to tackle rising crime in Washington, D.C., Bowser warned such a crackdown would be "unsettling and unprecedented."
However, the mayor admitted at a press conference on Wednesday that the federal surge has made a noticeable impact on one of America's most famously dangerous cities.
At the briefing, Bowser displayed a chart crediting the influx of FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Park Police and Capitol Police with bolstering MPD’s efforts and declared, "We greatly appreciate the surge of officers that enhance what MPD has been able to do in this city."
She pointed to one dramatic example, saying, "For carjackings, the difference between this period, this 20-day period of this federal surge and last year represents an 87% reduction in carjackings in Washington, D.C. We know that when carjackings go down, when use of gun goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer. So, this surge has been important to us for that reason."
Bowser offered further examples of Trump’s new surge driving results.
"This is what we think in just a couple of weeks of experience has worked," she said. "Having more federal law enforcement officers on the street — we think having more stops that got to illegal guns has helped. We think that there is more accountability in the system, or at least perceived accountability in the system, that is driving down illegal behavior. We know that we have had fewer gun crimes, fewer homicides, and we have experienced an extreme reduction in carjackings."
Bowser also cautioned that not every tactic has been successful, citing "a break in trust between police and community, especially with new federal partners in our community."
She criticized the use of masked ICE agents in neighborhoods and said relying on out-of-state National Guard troops was inefficient. The mayor added the city still needs more local police officers, prosecutors, judges and prevention programs while maintaining local control.
When later prompted by a reporter, Bowser argued that Trump seizing greater control of Union Station would be a "good thing."
Quote:A man in Florida proved that not all heroes wear capes after he thwarted a burglary and detained a suspect -- all while wearing Batman pajamas, according to the Cape Coral Police Department.
"Thanks to a quick-thinking neighbor in his Batman pajamas, another burglary suspect was put behind bars," police said in a statement.
At approximately 2:03 a.m. on Wednesday, police responded to a burglary in progress at a home in Southeast Cape Coral, but when they arrived on the scene, they found the suspect already detained by Kyle Myvett, who was dressed in a Batman onesie, officials said.
Myvett told detectives he had "gone to bed when his home security cameras alerted him to someone breaking into his vehicle," police said. So, Myvett -- still sporting the pajamas -- went outside to investigate and "saw the suspect rummaging through his truck," police said.
Moments later, Myvett "found the same suspect in his neighbor's garage and detained him until officers arrived," police said.
Police said the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Justin Schimpl, allegedly broke into Myvett's vehicle -- along with his neighbor's -- and stole "multiple items," including two pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses worth $300 each, cash, a woman's wristlet and more than $500 in gift cards, police said.
Schimpl allegedly claimed another man was accompanying him in this burglary, but police said the name of that person "changed multiple times" and no other suspects were found after officials searched the area.
The suspect, who police said is "known to law enforcement from prior investigations," was charged with two counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, two counts of petit theft under $750 and one count of burglary of an occupied dwelling.
It remains unclear whether Schimpl has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. He first court appearance is scheduled on Sept. 29, according to jail records.
Quote:The Trump administration plans to return more than 600 unaccompanied Guatemalan children in United States custody to their home country, CNN reported.
The children are reportedly under the care of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) but would be repatriated as part of a pilot program with the Guatemalan government.
"Sending children back without real safety plans is not 'repatriation'—it is abandonment of the child and our nation's commitments under U.S. and international law," Gladis Molina Alt, executive director for the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights, told Newsweek in a statement.
"The Trump administration is breaking the law by turning their backs on children who came here seeking protection."
...
During the 2024 election campaign, President Donald Trump frequently referred to unaccompanied immigrant children who he said had been lost by the Biden administration, and promised to find them and get them back home. Children have frequently arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border without their parents or guardians, who have sometimes gone ahead to find a home in the U.S.
What To Know
Officials described the effort as the first of its kind and directed staff to halt certain releases of Guatemalan children to relatives in the United States, CNN reported. Officials told the network's Priscilla Alvarez that they consider the removals "repatriations" rather than deportations.
It was not immediately clear whether the children had appeared before an immigration judge and said that they wished to return home voluntarily, which could be considered a repatriation.
As of August 2025, there are just under 2,000 children in HHS custody, with a majority originating from Central American countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, according to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
The Trump administration has carried out more so-called welfare checks of immigrant children across the U.S., and has ramped up enforcement actions such as placing children in expedited removal proceedings.
Immigrant advocates have raised concerns about these practices. Unaccompanied children are considered a protected and vulnerable group.
I don't know why those leftists are complaining at all. If the children need some extra help to make sure they will be treated fairly in Guatemala, that's something the Guatemalan government should take care of, not the US administration.
Quote:Authorities have determined that Annunciation Catholic School shooting suspect Robin Westman had visited the church weeks prior to the attack, pretending to have a desire to reconnect with his Catholic faith so that he could map out the building.
Newsweek reached out to the City of Minneapolis and the FBI for comment via email on Thursday afternoon.
When asked for comment, Minneapolis Police directed Newsweek to the City of Minneapolis for all inquiries.
The Context
Westman is accused of opening fire during the first Mass of the new school year at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday, killing two children, aged 8 and 10, and injuring 17 others.
The suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police revealed at a press conference shortly after the attack.
What To Know
CNN, citing a senior law enforcement official, reported that investigators are looking at hand-drawn diagrams of the church's interior, which appeared in a video manifesto that Westman, 23, had set to publish as the attack began.
Two videos were published, including an 11-minute video that appeared to function as a manifesto and a second video that showed the alleged shooter pointing to two outside windows in what appeared to be a drawing of the church and stabbing it with a long knife.
The videos briefly surfaced on YouTube before disappearing. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed the existence of a video during a press conference, stating that it had been taken down, and added, "His manifesto appeared to show him at the scene and included some disturbing writings."
Westman had likely planned to access the church, but may have been locked out because Mass had started.
During an interview with CNN on Wednesday, O'Hara speculated that Westman may have planned to access the church but was locked out because Mass had already started. He said that authorities believe that locking the doors at the start of Mass "played a part in ensuring this tragedy did not become that much worse."
Who Was Shooting Suspect Robin Westman?
Westman does not have an extensive criminal history and acted alone after recently and legally purchasing firearms.
The video on YouTube showed a cache of weapons and ammunition, and it featured phrases including "Kill Donald Trump" and "Where Is Your God?" written on them.
Any potential motive remains nebulous, but investigators have searched three residences connected to Westman and gathered hundreds of pieces of evidence, including additional writing, presenting "a whole lot of hate against a whole variety of people...but nothing specific to point to as the motive for targeting the church," according to O'Hara.
However, Westman's mother had previously been a member and employee of the church for five years, retiring in 2021, and Westman was a former student.
Federal officials have referred to Westman as transgender, but the suspect's gender identity remains unclear. Meanwhile, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has decried any hatred directed at the transgender community over the attack.
Victims of Minneapolis School Shooting: What We Know
Of the 17 individuals injured in the shooting, 14 were children ranging in ages from 6 to 15. Seven students were in critical condition, but all of those injured by the attack are expected to survive. The three adults injured are parishioners in their 80s, according to police.
The school includes students from pre-K to eighth grade and has 391 students as of the 2023-2024 school year. Each grade has two classes with about 20 students in each class.
The school is in the Windom neighborhood, about five miles south of downtown Minneapolis.
Quote:In a resurfaced letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the head of the Minnesota Catholic Conference expressed that Catholic and other nonpublic schools were in "urgent and critical need" of security improvements, saying, "Our schools are under attack."
The plea went unheeded, and two years later, the concerns raised by Catholic leaders materialized when a gunman opened fire on students of a Minneapolis Catholic school while they were attending Mass, leaving two dead and 17 injured.
The letter was first reported on by the Daily Wire and was sent by Minnesota Catholic Conference Executive Director Jason Adkins and Tim Benz, president of the private school advocacy group MINNDEPENDENT. The letter was sent on April 14, 2023, and is still publicly available on the Minnesota Catholic Conference’s website.
"We are writing on behalf of our respective organizations regarding the urgent and critical need in Minnesota to make sure our schools are secure and safe considering the most recent, and continuing attacks, on our schools in this country and in our state," the leaders wrote.
In the letter, the leaders pointed to the mass shooting at Covenant Christian School in Nashville, which had occurred just a week before the letter was sent, saying, "The latest school shooting at a nonpublic Christian school in Tennessee sadly confirms what we already know – our schools are under attack."
"In Minnesota, nonpublic schools, particularly our Jewish and Muslim schools, have experienced increased levels of threats, all of which we must take very seriously," the leaders added. "The tragedy from last week at Covenant School must never happen in Minnesota or in our country again."
The leaders expressed serious concern that the 72,000 students enrolled in independent, Catholic, Jewish, Christian and Muslim schools in Minnesota could be in danger due to nonpublic schools being excluded from the $50 million Building and Cyber Security Grant Program and the state’s Safe Schools Program, which provides emergency response training, security upgrades, mental health services and other security measures.
The leaders said they were especially concerned given "the most recent, and continuing attacks, on our schools in this country and in our state."
"We need to ensure that all of schools have the resources to respond to and prevent these attacks from happening to our schools," the leaders wrote.
"An attack on any school, whether it is a public, nonpublic, charter or another school site, cannot be tolerated or allowed to happen in Minnesota," the leaders added. "We want to make sure Minnesota is doing everything it can to ensure that all our students are safe and secure. We ask you include $50 million in the final Education Finance bill and allow nonpublic schools to apply for funding."
A spokesperson for the Minnesota Catholic Conference confirmed the letter’s authenticity to Fox News Digital. Though declining to comment further, the spokesperson confirmed the requests made in the letter were never granted.
The spokesperson additionally pointed to additional requests the conference and Minnesota Catholic bishops had made in 2022 to Walz for Catholic and other nonpublic schools to be included in the state’s school safety programs.
In a June 2022 video, St. Paul-Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda called on Walz to convene a special session of the state legislature to pass a bill granting permanent funding streams to all schools, including nonpublic schools, for security enhancements, violence prevention and mental health programs, according to Fox 9.
According to a recent policy document by the Minnesota Department of Education outlining the Building and Cyber Security Grant Program, the program is still only available to cooperative units, school districts or charter schools, excluding nonpublic schools.
Additionally, according to a statute outlining the Safe Schools Program available on the Minnesota legislature’s website, the funding available to each school corresponds to its tax levy, indicating private schools are not eligible for the funding.
Walz’s office, however, told Fox News Digital that "private schools do indeed receive state funding" and that "they are also eligible for school safety center resources, including trainings."
Quote:A federal judge on Thursday ordered a new trial for three former Memphis police officers convicted in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, adding another twist to a complex legal saga that has played out in both federal and state courts.
U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman granted the retrial for Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who were found guilty in October 2024 of obstruction of justice through witness tampering in connection with Nichols' January 2023 death. Defense attorneys argued the judge who presided over their original trial was biased, and Lipman, who took over the case in June, agreed to vacate the federal convictions.
Why are the Memphis Officers Getting a New Trial?
After the federal trial, Bean, Haley and Smith were convicted of witness tampering for misleading supervisors about the beating. Bean and Smith were acquitted of violating Nichols' civil rights, while Haley was found guilty.
Judge Lipman granted a new trial after finding that the judge who oversaw the original case had shown potential bias against the defendants. According to court documents, Judge Norris suggested during a meeting that at least one of the officers was in a gang tied to the October 2024 shooting of a law clerk, who was struck in the chest during an auto theft. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Norris told attendees he believed the intended target was a former law clerk who had worked on the Nichols case and had been seen by one or more of the defendants during the trial.
Lipman wrote that Norris also expressed frustration with the police investigation and told her he would not meet with any Memphis police officers because the department was "infiltrated to the top with gang members."
Attorneys for officers Bean, Haley and Smith argued that Norris' suspicions were unfounded and that there was no evidence linking them or the department to gang activity. In her order, Lipman said the risk of bias was "too high to be constitutionally tolerable" and ruled that a new trial was required.
Smith's attorney, Martin Zummach, told the AP that Lipman "did the right thing." Bean's lawyer declined to comment, and Haley's attorney did not immediately respond to a request. Memphis police also declined to comment.
The ruling comes just three months after a Tennessee jury acquitted the same three officers on state charges, including second-degree murder, aggravated assault and kidnapping. The May verdict stunned Nichols' family and fueled widespread frustration, given the existence of video showing the brutal beating.
Prosecutors in the state case argued that the officers were responsible for Nichols' death, while the defense contended that he died from a combination of other factors, including health complications.
What Happened to Tyre Nichols?
Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was stopped by members of the now-disbanded SCORPION unit on Jan. 7, 2023. Officers pulled him from his car, pepper-sprayed him and used a Taser before Nichols fled on foot.
When the five officers caught up with him near his home, they punched, kicked and struck him with a baton as he cried out for his mother. He died three days later in a hospital. Video captured by a police pole camera showed the officers afterward talking and laughing as Nichols lay gravely injured.
The beating prompted nationwide protests, renewed calls for police reform and intense scrutiny of specialized units accused of aggressive tactics.
Who Were the Police Offers Convicted in Tyre Nichols' Death?
Two other officers, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty before the federal trial began and testified against their former colleagues. Both have also signaled plans to plead guilty to state charges.
All of the officers involved in the Nichols case are still awaiting federal sentencing.
With Lipman's decision, Bean, Haley and Smith now face another round in federal court, keeping alive a case that continues to test accountability in American policing.
Quote:A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump had no legal authority to impose sweeping tariffs under emergency powers law, dealing a major setback to his efforts to reshape global trade on his own terms.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in a 7-4 decision, said Trump's reliance on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to declare national emergencies and levy import taxes on nearly every U.S. trading partner exceeded his authority.
But the court stopped short of striking the tariffs immediately, giving the administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court. The ruling will not take effect until October 14 as the Trump administration is widely expected to appeal the case to the highest court.
Trump signaled a Supreme Court appeal in a Truth Social post after the ruling, saying in part, "ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT! Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end. If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong. Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
Why It Matters
The decision complicates Trump's ambition to fully upend decades of U.S. trade policy. He has other legal tools at his disposal, such as provisions in the 1974 Trade Act, but those authorities are narrower and limit how quickly and severely a president can act. Trump's tariff policy — rolled out with little predictability — has rattled global markets, strained ties with U.S. allies and trading partners, and fueled concerns of higher consumer prices and slower economic growth.
At the same time, the levies have been central to Trump's trade strategy. He has used them to pressure the European Union, Japan and others into what he touts as favorable trade deals, while boasting that tariffs have funneled tens of billions of dollars into the U.S. Treasury to offset the sweeping tax cuts he signed into law on July 4.
What To Know
The ruling largely upheld a May decision by the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York that found Trump's use of IEEPA to justify tariffs "exceed any authority granted to the President." That court had combined challenges from businesses and states that argued Trump's tariffs were unconstitutional and economically harmful. While agreeing with that assessment, the appeals court allowed the levies to remain in place for now.
The government could also face financial consequences. If the tariffs are ultimately overturned, it may be required to refund some of the import taxes already collected — a potentially heavy hit to federal revenue.
Revenue from tariffs totaled $142 billion by July, more than double the amount at the same point last year. The Justice Department argued in court filings this month that eliminating the levies could lead to "financial ruin" for the United States.
The case focused on two major tariff actions tied to emergency declarations. The first came on April 2, which Trump dubbed "Liberation Day," when he imposed "reciprocal" tariffs of up to 50% on countries running trade surpluses with the United States, along with a 10% "baseline" tariff on most other imports. Trump declared the decades-long trade deficit itself to be a national emergency. In August, he adjusted the rates but continued applying taxes even to imports from countries with which the U.S. runs surpluses.
The second set of levies, announced Feb. 1, targeted imports from Canada, China and Mexico. Trump called these "trafficking tariffs," justifying them as a response to drugs and migrants crossing into the United States, which he declared a separate national emergency.
The Constitution grants Congress the power to levy taxes, including tariffs, though over time lawmakers have delegated significant trade authority to the president. Trump argued IEEPA provided virtually unlimited power to tax imports when national emergencies are declared. But no president had previously used the law to justify tariffs; it had been employed instead for sanctions and export restrictions against adversaries such as Iran and North Korea.
The challenges did not cover all of Trump's trade actions. Tariffs he imposed under other legal authorities, such as those on steel, aluminum and automobiles after Commerce Department investigations, remain untouched. Nor does the ruling effect tariffs Trump first levied against China in his first term, which President Joe Biden later kept in place, citing unfair trade practices by Beijing.
In their dissent, judges who opposed Friday's ruling said the 1977 emergency powers law "is not an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority under the Supreme Court's decisions," arguing that Congress has previously granted presidents limited authority to impose tariffs.
Quote:Around 30 students were taken to local hospitals after falling ill, as a middle school and a high school were evacuated on Friday in Ashland County, Ohio.
Newsweek reached out to Mapleton Local School District via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The incident raises immediate safety concerns for families, school officials and local emergency services because it involves multiple students falling ill simultaneously.
Rapid coordination among schools, county public safety agencies, and utility crews was required to ensure student safety and investigate potential causes.
What To Know
Emergency personnel evacuated Mapleton Middle School and Mapleton High School on Friday after several students developed headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Roughly 30 students were transported to area hospitals for evaluation, officials said, according to WKYC 3 News.
Ashland County Sheriff Kurt Schneider told reporters that about 30 students were taken to seven hospitals across a five-county area for evaluation. No staff were affected by the incident.
Schneider said at a press conference on Friday that investigators are "not ruling anything out."
"At this point, I mean, I think they're all fine. They're all alive, they're all breathing." Schneider said of the students, according to News 5 Cleveland, noting that the information is still preliminary.
Schneider said that fire crews also assured him that there were no lethal doses of carbon monoxide in the buildings. He added that if parents have any information related to the incident, they should alert law enforcement.
Columbia Gas of Ohio told WKYC that they responded to the scene to a report of a suspected gas leak, but "Upon arrival, our crews performed a safety check and confirmed the situation was not natural gas related."
"Our thoughts are with the students and families impacted by this situation," the company said.
The first call related to the incident was received by first responders at approximately 10:20 a.m. local time, according to WKYC.
Quote:A Republican-appointed judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from removing Michael Abramowitz as the director of the government-funded media organization Voice of America.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, said Abramowitz cannot be removed absent a majority vote from the International Broadcasting Advisory Board. The Trump administration fired the entire board in January.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration's effort to oust Abramowitz is part of the president's broader campaign to tighten control over typically independent institutions like the press and the Federal Reserve.
Trump tapped former Republican Senate candidate and longtime loyalist Kari Lake in December to lead VOA. But by firing the advisory board in January, he removed the body responsible for instating and removing directors, meaning Lake could not take over as head of VOA and Abramowitz could not be removed.
Lake subsequently served as a senior adviser to the CEO of VOA's federal parent, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), and is now the deputy CEO.
What To Know
Lamberth ruled on Thursday that Abramowitz cannot be removed as VOA director unless the board votes him out.
"To the extent the Board's current lack of quorum institutes a practical barrier to removing Abramowitz, the Broadcast Act gives the President a straightforward remedy: replacing the removed members," the judge wrote.
Abramowitz sued the Trump administration in March, after Lake put most of VOA's workforce on leave and moved to shut down the broadcaster. The suit was one of several that were brought by outlets or media organizations under USAGM's umbrella, and it asked the court to weigh in on whether the administration's effort to dismantle VOA was legal.
Lamberth issued a preliminary injunction in April that allowed for the organization's staffers to return to work. But two months later, the Trump administration implemented widespread layoffs that put most of VOA's staffers on the chopping block.
USAGM officials tried to remove Abramowitz earlier this month after he refused to accept what he described as an "illegal" reassignment to run the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station in Greenville, North Carolina.
John Zadrozny, a senior adviser at USAGM, subsequently sent a letter to Abramowitz notifying him that he would be terminated effective August 31.
Abramowitz's lawyers fought back, saying in a court filing: "Right in the middle of litigation about Defendants' willingness to follow the law, they are firing Director Abramowitz for refusing to accept a reassignment because he insisted that Defendants follow the law."
Lamberth also took issue with the ultimatum USAGM officials presented to Abramowitz, which came after he issued his preliminary injunction ordering the Trump administration to comply with federal law regarding VOA.
The judge called out the Trump administration for making the "monumental personnel decision" to tell Abramowitz to accept the demotion in North Carolina or be fired, adding that it was a "shocking" move.
After Lamberth issued his ruling on Thursday blocking Lake from firing Abramowitz, the VOA director put out a statement saying he was "gratified" with the judge's decision.
Quote:The United States is tightening restrictions on foreign chipmakers in China, revoking special authorizations that had allowed South Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix to access American semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
The move ends exemptions the Commerce Department granted in 2022 when it imposed sweeping limits on U.S. technology sales to China. Without those authorizations, the companies will now need licenses to obtain U.S. equipment for their Chinese operations. Intel also appeared on the list of firms losing authorization, though it sold its Dalian facility in China earlier this year.
Why It Matters
The decision follows months of speculation. In June, a White House official said the administration was preparing for the possibility of revoking the authorizations if trade negotiations with China collapsed. Currently, both countries are operating under a tariff truce, with 30 percent U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods and 10 percent duties on American exports set to remain in place until November. The years-long trade war has already disrupted supply chains, from rare earth minerals critical to U.S. industries to soybean exports to China.
What To Know
The Commerce Department said it would approve licenses to ensure companies can continue operating existing facilities but will not authorize expansions or technology upgrades. That shift could have significant implications for U.S. equipment suppliers, including KLA Corp., Lam Research and Applied Materials, which are likely to see reduced sales to China.
On the day of the announcement, shares of Lam fell 4 percent, Applied Materials dropped 2.8 percent and KLA slipped 2.4 percent.
Thousands of license applications by U.S. companies to export goods and technology to China remain backlogged, according to Reuters, including billions of dollars in semiconductor equipment sales. The revocations will not take effect for 120 days, giving companies time to adjust.
Samsung and SK Hynix previously benefited from what's known as Validated End User status, which allowed U.S. suppliers to ship equipment to them more quickly and reliably. That designation will now be revoked, bringing the companies under the same licensing rules as other foreign firms.
Neither Samsung nor SK Hynix have commented on the announcement as of Friday night.
Meanwhile, in July, the two countries announced a tariff deal, but South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump this week without putting the agreement in writing.
Last week, it was announced that chipmaker Intel will give the U.S. government a 10% stake in the company, an agreement he said followed a meeting last week with CEO Lip-Bu Tan — just days after Trump had called for Tan's resignation over his past ties to China.
Quote:Legionella has been detected in a federal office building, Newsweek can exclusively reveal.
According to a leaked email, the potentially harmful bacteria was found in six locations in the Fritz G. Lanham Federal Building, a federal office in Fort Worth, Texas, occupied by a branch of the General Services Administration (GSA).
The bacteria, which grows in warm water, can cause Legionnaires' disease, a type of pneumonia. Most healthy people exposed to the bacteria do not fall ill and it can be treated with antibiotics.
However, according to U.S. federal figures, around 8,000 to 18,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized with the disease each year and it has a fatality rate of 10 percent.
As such, the bacteria poses health and safety concerns for people working in the building, particularly as President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January to ban government staff from working from home. The staff at this office are scheduled to return on September 15.
Newsweek has contacted the GSA by email to comment on this story.
According to the email from a staff member at "legionella was detected in five drinking fountains and one sink."
To deal with it, the email said: "Affected fixtures will be replaced with filtered units." It emphasized that "potable water remains fully available for all tenants."
Rodent Issues
And this latest incident comes after Newsweek revealed last week that the same building has seen "rodent activity" as well as potential mold due to "the increased tenant population" in the building.
A GSA spokesperson said in response that they were "escalating to more aggressive treatments to resolve the [rodent] situation quickly and with minimum disruption to tenants" and that by "carpet cleaning, surface cleaning" and improving dehumidification systems in the building they were dealing with any potential mold issues.
The leaked email also showed that the GSA had dealt with rodents by "sealing entry points, enhancing waste management and setting traps."
Federal Infections
Legionella was also found in a federal building in New York in August 2024 while in October 2024, it was found in two federal buildings in San Diego, California.
In September 2023, the GSA published a memo showing that higher levels of the bacteria had been found in six GSA buildings across the country.
Elsewhere, there have been other reported health and safety concerns in other federal offices in recent months, including lead in water in the Federal Aviation Administration's Washington headquarters in March.
Meanwhile, the head of the United States Institute of Peace said in May that "rats and roaches" occupied the organization's Washington, D.C., headquarters when the Department of Government Efficiency took over.
Quote:Two guns rights organizations are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their challenge to a ban on assault weapons in an Illinois county.
The Firearms Policy Coalition and the Second Amendment Foundation filed a petition for writ of certiorari on Wednesday. The petitioners are challenging a ban on assault weapons, including the AR-15, in Cook County, where the city of Chicago is located.
"The Cook County State's Attorney's Office (CCSAO) remains steadfast in its mission to protect Cook County residents, and our law enforcement partners from acts of domestic terrorism committed with military-grade weaponry. We will defend common-sense firearm regulations restricting assault weapon ownership no matter the venue. We are ready for the fight," the Cook County State's Attorney's Office told Newsweek on Friday.
Why It Matters
The ruling could have implications for a statewide ban on assault weapons in Illinois, as well as other similar bans throughout the nation.
In June, the Court declined to hear a case on an assault weapons ban in Maryland, with conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh writing in a statement respecting the Court's denial.
"Additional petitions for certiorari will likely be before this Court shortly and, in my view, this Court should and presumably will address the AR–15 issue soon, in the next Term or two," he wrote.
What To Know
Cook County first passed a ban on assault weapons in 1993, and it has been updated at least twice since then, according to Capitol News Illinois. It's currently known as the Blair Holt Assault Weapons Ban, named after a Chicago teen who was killed in a shooting while protecting a high school classmate in 2007.
The current law lists over 120 weapons banned, including the AR-15.
"Today, this iconic American firearm is legal in the vast majority of states and is 'the most popular rifle in the country,' while other firearms banned by the County are 'both widely legal and bought by many ordinary consumers,'" David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson and William V. Bergstrom, counsel for the plaintiffs, wrote in a petition.
The plaintiffs in this case also include two Cook County residents, Cutberto Viramontes and Christopher Khaya.
"They both want to acquire semiautomatic rifles that Cook County has banned and would do so if it were lawful— Viramontes an AR-15 platform rifle, and Khaya an IMI Galil semiautomatic rifle," counsel for THE plaintiffs said.
Petitioners argue that the rifle "has been a paradigmatic American arm" since the founding of this county, and the AR-15 is the "modern descendant" of those weapons.
"The question can be fairly asked, if the Second Amendment does not protect it, what could it possibly protect?" counsel wrote.
Quote:President Donald Trump has widened his effort to dismantle federal labor agreements, signing a new executive order on Thursday that adds several agencies to the growing list of departments where collective bargaining rights are being suspended.
Why It Matters
The move extends a March 27 order in which Trump relied on a provision of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, granting presidents the authority to halt collective bargaining when deemed necessary for national security.
If implemented by the agencies, union covered federal workers would lose the protections typically guaranteed under collective bargaining agreements, such as access to neutral arbitration for workplace disputes and official time for union representatives to carry out negotiations and casework.
What To Know
The latest order applies to a range of agencies, including NASA, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the National Weather Service and the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service within NOAA, the Bureau of Reclamation's hydropower program, and the Patent and Trademark Office's commissioner of patents office.
"President Trump is taking action to ensure that agencies vital to national security can execute their missions without delay and protect the American people," the White House said in a statement. "The President needs a responsive and accountable civil service to protect our national security."
Union leaders, however, sharply criticized the decision. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National President Everett Kelley said the timing, coming just after Trump's Labor Day proclamation, "should show American workers what he really thinks about them."
Kelley said in an email to Newsweek: "This latest executive order is another clear example of retaliation against federal employee union members who have bravely stood up against his anti-worker, anti-American plan to dismantle the federal government. Several agencies including NASA and the National Weather Service have already been hollowed out by reckless DOGE cuts, so for the administration to further disenfranchise the remaining workers in the name of 'efficiency' is immoral and abhorrent.
"AFGE is preparing an immediate response and will continue to fight relentlessly to protect the rights of our members, federal employees and their union."
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) President Liz Shuler said in a press release: "Issuing these executive orders just days before the holiday that honors everything working people have fought and died for—including our right to come together with our co-workers in a union and bargain for what we deserve—shows us that this administration's callous disregard for workers' rights knows no bounds."
Agencies Impacted By Union Contract Cancellations
The action follows a similar step at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which last week confirmed it had removed collective bargaining rights for the majority of its workforce. The change reduced the number of union-eligible employees from about 375,000 to roughly 7,000, with the administration saying it is redirecting union-related funds toward veteran care.
Union officials and veterans' advocates warned that the rollback could undermine the quality of services provided to veterans.
Union contracts at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture have also recently been terminated.
Quote:Cracker Barrel's co-founder has slammed the company's chief executive over plans for a new logo that were abruptly scrapped following a backlash.
"They're trying to modernize to be like the competition—Cracker Barrel doesn't have any competition," Tommy Lowe said in an interview with WTVF News Channel 5.
Lowe added that he heard the company's CEO Julie Felss Masino "was at Taco Bell. What's Taco Bell know about Cracker Barrel and country food? They need to work on the food and service and leave the barrel— the logo alone."
Newsweek has contacted Cracker Barrel for comment via an email sent outside regular business hours on Friday.
The Context
Cracker Barrel announced plans last week for a simplified logo featuring only the company's name as part of a wider plan to modernize its restaurants and appeal to younger customers.
But earlier this week, the company said it would keep its old logo—featuring an older man in overalls sitting next to a barrel and the words "Old Country Store"—following a wave of criticism, including from President Donald Trump.
What To Know
Lowe, who founded Cracker Barrel with his late friend Dan Evins and was vice president of operations and a board member for decades before retiring, told the station that the new logo was bland.
He added that current leadership need to focus on what appeals to Cracker Barrel's customers.
According to Lowe, simplicity and authenticity was what won them over when Cracker Barrel first opened more than 50 years ago.
"There was a Grand 'Ole Opry guy when we opened named String Bean and String Bean came in there one day when we were open about a month or two and he said, 'It looks good but just keep it country,'" he said.
He added that if current leadership "don't get back to keeping it country, then it ain't gonna work."
Quote:House Speaker Mike Johnson blasted Gavin Newsom for doing "anything for attention," after the California governor pointed out that Louisiana, Johnson's home state, has a significantly higher crime rate than California.
During Johnson's appearance on Fox News on Friday, the hosts played a clip of Newsom stating that Louisiana had a murder rate "nearly four times higher than California's."
"Gavin Newsom will do anything for attention," Johnson said. "He can name-drop me all he wants. He needs to go and govern his state and not be engaging in all of this."
Johnson said that his hometown of Shreveport "has done a great job of reducing crime" but acknowledged that crime had to be addressed "everywhere that it rears its ugly head."
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed that Democratic-run cities and blue states have become overrun with violent crime. President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy the National Guard in major hubs such as Chicago, New York and San Francisco. However, crime statistics show that many Republican-run states and cities have equal, or higher, rates of crime.
What To Know
Newsom and 18 other Democratic governors released a joint statement on Thursday alleging that Trump "continues to politicize our military by trying to undermine the executive authority of Governors as Commanders in Chief of their state's National Guard."
"Whether it's Illinois, Maryland and New York or another state tomorrow, the President's threats and efforts to deploy a state's National Guard without the request and consent of that state's governor is an alarming abuse of power, ineffective, and undermines the mission of our service members," the governors said. "This chaotic federal interference in our states' National Guard must come to an end."
Earlier this month, Trump announced that Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department would be placed under federal control. He also directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to mobilize the National Guard.
The president has spoken about taking action to curb crime in other cities, as well.
"Governor Pritzker had 6 murders in Chicago this weekend. 20 people were shot. But he doesn't want to ask me for help. Can this be possible? The people are desperate for me to STOP THE CRIME, something the Democrats aren't capable of doing. STAY TUNED!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.
Last week, Trump told reporters, "I think Chicago will be next, and then we'll help with New York."
What People Are Saying
House Speaker Mike Johnson, on Fox News: "My hometown of Shreveport has done a great job of reducing crime, gradually, but we've got to address it everywhere that it rears its ugly head. And I think every major city in the country, the residents of those cities, are open to that and anxious to have it. And we're the policy, we're the party that's going to bring that forward."
UKRAINE WAR
Quote:Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky spelled out what he said were the "three pillars" of security guarantees his country needed to deter future Russian aggression under a peace deal to end Moscow's ongoing war.
Zelensky was speaking at a press briefing on Friday, August 29.
Aside from recognition of territorial control, security guarantees for Ukraine are a major point of contention in peace negotiations with Russia, and a settlement hinges on an agreement about what they might look like.
U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration are brokering the peace negotiations, but the brutal war continues, and Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on territory and guarantees.
Zelensky's Three Pillars for Ukraine
Zelensky's first pillar was maintaining the Ukrainian army at its current level of personnel and ensuring the military has stable funding for weapons, which would be provided by the U.S., through domestic production of equipment like drones and broader European supplies of materiel.
The second pillar would be a NATO-like guarantee in lieu of Ukraine's membership of the alliance, which Trump has ruled out. Zelensky said he would discuss the practical details with Kyiv's European allies, such as boots on the ground.
And the third pillar would be sanctions against Russia to punish and deter Moscow, including using seized Russian assets to fund the reconstruction of Ukraine once the fighting ends.
Though he did not name it as one of the three pillars, Zelensky said Ukraine's membership of the European Union (EU) would offer economic and security guarantees.
Russia Rules NATO Troops Out
Russia has ruled out Western troops on the ground in Russia, especially those from NATO allies, saying it would not agree to guarantees that included such a provision.
Moscow says Ukraine's desire for deeper ties to NATO was the main driver of its invasion, saying it posed a serious threat to Russia's national security.
Instead, Moscow favors an arrangement involving the permanent members of the UN Security Council, namely Russia, China, the U.S., the U.K., and France, and other parties, such as Turkey.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said previously that Moscow must be involved in decisions about security guarantees for Ukraine, calling it a "road to nowhere" without Russia's participation and consent.
Lavrov cited the failed 2022 effort in Istanbul to agree on a settlement that would end the war. He said Russia had agreed to Ukrainian proposals back then, only for the initiative to collapse before it could be signed.
"That is why we cannot agree with the idea that questions of security, of collective security, can now be decided without Russia's participation," Lavrov said, originally in Russian.
"It simply will not work…And I am convinced that in the West, and above all in the United States, they perfectly understand that seriously discussing issues of security without the Russian Federation is a utopia. It is a road to nowhere."
Quote:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 23 people were killed in the Russian strikes on Kyiv on Thursday, August 28, including four children. Eight other people remain unaccounted for.
Why It Matters
The Russian strikes on Ukraine come as President Donald Trump pushes for peace in Ukraine, urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet Zelensky and agree on a settlement that ends the war after his recent summits with the two leaders.
The Russian attacks risk stoking Trump's anger. He has threatened to take firmer action against Russia, likely in the form of secondary tariffs against its trading partners if it does not make peace with Ukraine quickly.
What To Know
Zelensky said in a post on X that rescue operations at the site of a residential building that was hit, where all but one of the confirmed fatalities occurred, were now complete.
"The youngest girl was not even three years old," he said.
Zelensky said 53 people had been wounded in the strikes, which had also damaged buildings belonging to the European Union and the British Council.
The Kremlin said it had struck military infrastructure. A drone factory in the Kyiv region was among the targets hit.
Russia's military had said in a Telegram post that it targeted "enterprises of the military-industrial complex and military air bases of Ukraine" during the attack.
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters Russia's "special military operation" was continuing as Ukraine maintained its attacks on Russian infrastructure, "often on Russia's civilian infrastructure," the state news agency Tass reported.
Peskov added that Russia "maintains its interest in continuing the negotiation process in order to achieve the goals before us by political and diplomatic means."
Zelensky said Russia must be held accountable for the attacks it was launching despite the efforts to bring peace.
"When instead of diplomacy Russia chooses ballistics, continues to modernize 'shaheds' [Iranian-designed drones] for killing, and deepens cooperation with actors like North Korea, it means the world must respond accordingly," he said, referring to attack drones.
Progress on peace efforts appears to be stalled on two major issues: the concession of Ukrainian territory to Russia and the future architecture of Ukraine's security.
Russia has demanded recognition of the land its forces control in eastern Ukraine, which amounts to around a fifth of all Ukrainian territory, and that Kyiv also concede more territory that Moscow does not control. Kyiv has rejected this.
The Kremlin has also ruled out security guarantees for Ukraine that involve troops from NATO allies being deployed on the ground there, as proposed by Kyiv's European allies, including the U.K., France and Germany.
Quote:French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Russia's Vladimir Putin would be duping U.S. President Donald Trump if he fails to commit by Monday to talks with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
"If that doesn't happen by Monday, the deadline set by President Trump, it means President Putin has once again played President Trump," Macron said at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff, was asked by a reporter outside the White House on Friday, "if that was true."
"Such an absurd question," Miller responded. "President Trump has achieved seven peace deals in seven months. No president in history has done more to advance the cause of peace. He's been nominated by multiple world leaders for the Nobel Peace Prize."
"Obviously, he's working steadfastly to end the killing in Ukraine," Miller said.
Why It Matters
Trump complained last month that Russia's president "talks nice and then he bombs everybody." But he has also chided Ukraine for its attacks, and a major Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight from Wednesday to Thursday that killed at least 23 people drew no public condemnation from the Trump administration.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted Thursday that Ukraine has been striking Russian oil refineries.
What To Know
Trump has warned of unspecified "consequences" if Putin and Zelensky do not meet. On Friday, Zelensky recalled Trump's earlier remark that he would give Putin one to two weeks to agree to a bilateral meeting before considering new action against Moscow.
"Two weeks will be on Monday. And we will remind everybody," the Ukrainian president said.
The proposed meetings between U.S., Ukrainian, and European leaders in New York next week appeared designed to add momentum to the push for peace, as Zelensky expressed frustration with what he called Russia's lack of constructive engagement in the process while it continues to launch devastating aerial attacks on civilian areas.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, met on Friday in New York with Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, to discuss preparations for upcoming meetings.
Yermak said he had briefed Witkoff on Russia's latest attacks on Ukraine and lamented that Putin had shown no willingness to engage in peace efforts despite his meeting with Trump in Alaska this month.
On Friday, Russian officials said that Putin remained open to talks, but noted that high-level preparations for such negotiations were not underway.
Quote:The Trump administration has denied any support for Chinese peacekeepers in a hypothetical demilitarized zone as proposed in peace talks with Ukraine and Russia as the three nations continue to seek a path towards resolving the ongoing war.
The Financial Times first reported that President Donald Trump has entertained Russian President Vladimir Putin's suggestion to invite China to supply peacekeepers for this neutral zone proposal, but a senior administration official told Newsweek that there has been "no discussion" of this idea.
"President Trump and his national security team continue to engage with Russian and Ukrainian officials towards a bilateral meeting to stop the killing and end the war," a senior administration official told Newsweek. "As many world leaders have stated, this war would have never happened if President Trump was in office. There was no discussion of Chinese peacekeepers. It is not in the national interest to further negotiate these issues publicly."
Why It Matters
Trump and several officials, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and State Secretary Marco Rubio, have held talks over the past six months with Russian and Ukrainian counterparts to try and find a path to peace and convince Russia to end its invasion of its western neighbor.
The U.S. president has repeatedly touted his peace-making bona fides, building on the Abraham Accords that he established in his first term. He confidently claimed he would wrangle a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia shortly after returning to office, but has found over the past six months a far more nuanced and complicated landscape to navigate.
However, Trump managed to bring Putin to the negotiation table this month, meeting face-to-face in Alaska to discuss security concerns and demands to bring Russia closer to a deal, followed by talks with Ukraine, and hopes for a face-to-face meeting between the warring nations and a potential trilateral meeting that would include the U.S.
What To Know
Reports over the past few days have started to surface details of what Ukraine and Russia may want to end the war – with emphasis on Russia's demands and suggestions, as the aggressor.
European officials floated the idea of a neutral zone that would lie along the border between Russia and Ukraine, and Russia has responded positively to the proposal, according to Politico and the Financial Times.
Details about the full dimensions of the zone remain nebulous, and the U.S. is not involved in those discussions, according to Politico.
However, that zone would require a peacekeeping force, ostensibly from a neutral organization or country. The Financial Times reported that Russia had suggested China as one possible option, but that it was immediately rejected and Ukraine has no interest in allowing one of Russia's allies to handle such a task.
China has allegedly continued to support Russia, first by buying Russian energy to provide much needed cashflow as Ukraine's allies applied devastating sanctions to Russia's economy, and Ukraine earlier this year accused China of supplying Russia with weapons and helping improve weapons production.
Russia has suggested modifications to the proposal that Ukraine has a security guarantee similar to a NATO Article Five collective defense clause, which would allow some Ukrainian allies to freely enter combat against a nation that attacks Ukraine in the future.
Quote:Russia listed what it said were the results of deadly Ukrainian drone strikes on civilian targets over the past week, as Moscow faces anger over its massive aerial attack on Kyiv, which hit a residential building and killed at least 24 people, including children.
Moscow is seeking to dampen the American response to its latest strikes on Kyiv, which took place overnight into Thursday, August 28. The strikes also hit buildings belonging to the European Union and the British Council, prompting outrage from Brussels and London.
The Kremlin said Russia had targeted military infrastructure in its Kyiv strikes. A drone factory was among the structures hit.
The attack risked the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is trying to broker an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and who has threatened Moscow with punishing secondary tariffs and other action if it does not make peace soon.
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, accused Ukraine's Western allies of hypocrisy over their criticisms of Moscow in light of recent strikes by Kyiv's forces.
Russian aerial attacks in recent months have outsized those launched by the Ukrainians, who are defending against Moscow's full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022.
At a press briefing on Friday morning, Zakharova detailed Ukrainian drone strikes from the previous seven days that she said had affected 140 Russian civilians, and said a church, bus, and car had been hit.
Nineteen civilians died, Zakharova said, including one child, and 121 were injured, including eight minors.
"We don't see any complaints from all those who profess human rights in the West. They keep silent," Zakharova said.
Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian foreign ministry for comment.
Trump Sanctions Loom for Russia
Trump has expressed frustration with Russian strikes before as he tries to bring about an elusive peace, an outcome he promised to deliver quickly when he took office in January 2025.
Negotiations are stuck on disagreements over recognition of territorial control and the future architecture of Ukrainian security guarantees.
Moscow has not yet felt the full force of American economic power. Secondary U.S. tariffs against Russian trading partners would test its financial resilience, the true strength of its international relationships and, crucially, its ability to sustain the Ukraine war.
The Trump administration has so far put additional tariffs on India for its purchases of Russian oil, putting pressure on Delhi to sever economic ties with Moscow. Others may soon face similar U.S. action as Russia's war thunders on.
Quote:Russia deployed warships to the Far East region near Alaska for a "patriotic" mission, while U.S. and Canadian aircraft and vessels carried out an operation in nearby waters.
The Russian naval deployment is part of the military's effort to highlight what it described as "heroism" during the special military operation, Moscow's term for the invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the United States-Canada operation in the Bering Sea aimed to demonstrate the resolve of the two allies in deterring and defeating adversaries that threaten their homelands in the Arctic.
Why It Matters
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia maintains a strong military presence in both the Far East and the Arctic, where it recently conducted a joint naval drill and patrol with China and operates dozens of bases along its long northern coastline bordering the Arctic Ocean.
The presence of Russian naval vessels in the Far East, aimed at promoting national unity, follows President Vladimir Putin's trip to Alaska to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on August 15. During the meeting, the leaders discussed the war in Ukraine but concluded without a ceasefire deal.
Washington and Ottawa are close allies in defending North America, having formed the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which regularly intercepts Russian military aircraft near allied airspace and monitors Chinese vessels in the Arctic.
What To Know
Citing the Russian Pacific Fleet, the state-run Tass news agency reported on Wednesday that two of the fleet's naval vessels arrived at Provideniya in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug in the Far East as part of a patriotic mission code-named "Strength in Truth-2025."
The straight-line distance between Provideniya and Alaska's mainland is approximately 170 miles, separated by the Bering Strait.
The mission is part of a Russian Defense Ministry project aimed at preserving the so-called "historical truth" of World War II, strengthening national values and the foundations of Russian statehood, and highlighting the Pacific Fleet's "heroism" during the war in Ukraine.
According to the report, the vessels would display an unspecified number and type of "Western-made weapons" captured on the battlefield during the special military operation.
The vessels departed Vladivostok, a city in the Far East near China and North Korea, on August 1 and reached Provideniya after sailing more than 4,000 miles. After this stop, they will transit south to the Kuril Islands before concluding the mission back at Vladivostok.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Alaskan Command announced on Thursday that it began an operation on Monday with the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District and the Canadian Armed Forces in the Bering Sea, which lies between Alaska and Russia south of the Bering Strait.
Released photos show the U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Armed Forces each deploying an aircraft and a vessel. The operation aimed to deepen cooperation and coordination between the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Canadian military.
Quote:Russian President Vladimir Putin remains open to an eventual meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, his spokesman said, but the high-level expert work required to prepare for one is not taking place.
Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian presidential office for comment.
U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for the two men to meet, seeing it as essential for breaking the deadlock on a peace settlement to end the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022.
After Trump met with Putin in Alaska and Zelensky in Washington, D.C., earlier in August, he said a meeting between the leaders was possible within a couple of weeks, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and began making arrangements. But no such meeting is imminent.
Newsweek has also contacted the White House for comment.
Russia Sent Draft of Position to Ukraine
"I will remind you of President Putin's position," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, originally in Russian, on Friday morning, according to a clip shared by state news agency RIA.
"He does not rule out the possibility of holding such a meeting, but he believes that any meeting, any high-level meeting, must be well prepared so that it can be used to analyze the groundwork that should first be carried out at the expert level," Peskov said.
He continued: "At the moment, it cannot be said that the expert work is, so to speak, in full swing. No, unfortunately, it is not. We maintain our interest and our readiness for such negotiations. All our positions have been conveyed. A corresponding draft—let's say, the main provisions in written form—was handed over to the Ukrainian side. These are the requested positions. Further discussion is necessary."
Zelensky has said he is willing to meet with Putin but has demanded a ceasefire for negotiations to take place, which Russia ruled out, saying it favored going straight to a peace settlement instead.
The Ukrainian leader says Russia's rejection of a ceasefire and hesitation over a Putin meeting is evidence that it does not seek peace and instead wants to continue with the war to seize more land from Kyiv.
Russia, Ukraine Strikes Continue
This week, Russia launched a massive strike on Kyiv, which it said targeted military infrastructure. Among the structures hit was a residential building and two owned by the European Union (EU) and the British Council.
Zelensky said 23 civilians had died in the strikes, including four children. Eight more were unaccounted for. He called for tougher international action against Russia, including more sanctions, to force it to make peace.
But Russia accused Ukraine and the West of hypocrisy for their anger over the Kyiv strike, listing recent Ukrainian drone attacks it said had killed and injured Russian civilians.
EUROPE
Quote:Germany plans to boost military recruitment as part of a sweeping effort to strengthen its national defenses in response to security concerns sparked by Russia's war in Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government approved a draft bill that introduces a voluntary military service scheme, aiming to raise the number of soldiers by 80,000.
The plan comes a decade after the government suspended compulsory duty and includes the possibility of reintroducing conscription if recruitment targets are not met, according to Reuters.
Newsweek has contacted the German Federal Ministry of Defense, via email, for comment.
Why It Matters
The move is a major policy reversal for Germany, which suspended conscription in 2011 under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, German leaders have been pushing to modernize and expand the armed forces after years of underinvestment.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the Bundeswehr (armed forces) "must grow" in order to meet NATO force commitments and ensure Germany's security. "The international security situation, above all Russia's aggressive posture, makes this necessary," Pistorius said in a press conference, "Only then will deterrence as a whole be truly credible vis-à-vis Russia"
What To Know
Germany currently has around 182,000 active soldiers. The new plan aims for 260,000 troops and 200,000 trained reservists by the early 2030s, as part of Berlin's commitment to NATO force readiness and regional defense.
Under the bill, military service will be voluntary for as long as possible, the German government said.
The initial scheme involves a six-month training period, with the option to pursue a military career.
If those recruitment targets are missed, the government may move to restore conscription, pending approval from the Bundestag.
All 18-year-old men will be required to complete an online survey assessing their willingness and suitability for service. Women will receive the same survey, but responding will be voluntary.
Quote:The UK, France and Germany have begun the process of restoring major UN sanctions on Iran - lifted under a 2015 deal - as tensions once again escalate over Tehran's nuclear programme.
The move will trigger a so-called snapback mechanism, which could result in the return of sanctions in 30 days.
In a letter to the European Union's policy chief, Iran's foreign minister said the three countries had "no legal jurisdiction" to reactivate the sanctions and that both Russia and China supported Iran's position.
The minister wrote that Iran was ready to resume "fair and balanced" negotiations on the disputed programme if the other parties showed "seriousness and goodwill".
Participants in the 2015 deal, the three European nations warned two weeks ago that they were prepared to restore the sanctions unless Iran agreed to a "diplomatic solution" by the end of August.
Iran's foreign ministry said the move would "seriously undermine" its ongoing process with the International Atomic Energy Agency, calling it a "provocative and unnecessary escalation" that "will be met with appropriate responses".
Talks between Iran and the US over its nuclear programme have not resumed since June when the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites and Iran barred UN-backed inspectors from accessing its facilities.
Years-long crippling economic sanctions were lifted in exchange for curbs to Iran's nuclear programme under a UN-backed deal between Iran and the US, UK, France, Germany, China and the EU.
But the deal unravelled after Donald Trump pulled the US out, calling it flawed and re-imposing nuclear-related sanctions in 2018 during his first term. Iran stepped up its nuclear activities in response, fuelling a renewed crisis.
The snapback provision was built into the 2015 accord and allows for a participant to initiate the process to bring back sanctions if they believe Iran has significantly failed to fulfil its nuclear commitments by notifying the UN Security Council.
The UK, France and Germany, known as the E3, took the step in a letter to the Security Council on Thursday. The council now has 30 days in which to decide whether to continue sanctions relief or allow it to lapse.
The letter said Iran's non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal was "clear and deliberate". It declared that Iran had "no civilian justification" for its high enriched uranium stockpile - uranium purified to near military grade - and that its nuclear programme "remains a clear threat to international peace and security".
The E3 said that during the next 30 days they would continue to engage with Iran "on any serious diplomatic efforts to restore [its] compliance with its commitments".
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK and its European allies recently offered an extension to sanctions relief, subject to Iran meeting certain conditions.
But he added that Iran had made "no substantive effort" to meet these conditions and "consistently failed to provide credible assurances on the nature of its nuclear programme".
Iran's foreign ministry pushed back, saying it had demonstrated "its utmost restraint and steadfast commitment" to diplomacy to preserve the previous deal and find a negotiated solution.
Iran urged a rejection of the snapback provision, but said it remained ready to engage with other members of the UN Security Council.
MIDDLE EAST
Quote:In a wide-ranging interview, a senior Israeli diplomat has shared with Newsweek his nation's strategy for realizing lasting change across several fronts that have been embroiled in a nearly two-year war, as well as addressing growing backlash emanating from allies, including the United States.
Just two weeks before the conflict erupted, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the podium at the annual United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2023, to declare his vision for a "new Middle East," which would "transform lands once ridden with conflict and chaos into fields of prosperity and peace."
A key part of this new Middle East involved building upon the momentum of the 2020 U.S.-backed Abraham Accords to establish ties with Saudi Arabia, thus paving the way for normalizing Israel's relationship with other Arab states. Another involved neutralizing the many threats Israel faced across its borders.
On October 7, 2023, efforts to realize the first goal came to a virtual halt as the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched what would become the deadliest attack in Israel's history, sparking an ongoing war that has spread across the region and drawn in Israel's top foe, Iran, directly.
Since then, Yuval Donio-Gideon, consul for public diplomacy at the Israeli Consulate General in New York, said, "Things have shifted dramatically in the Middle East."
"Some of these things we look back at with great sorrow," Donio-Gideon told Newsweek, "but some of these are really good opportunities for Israel and for neighboring people in the Middle East."
He cited the Abraham Accords, which ultimately saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco normalize relations with Israel in a process backed by President Donald Trump's first administration, as a "genuine manifestation" of the opportunities available to regional countries who prioritize peace "before religious war, before hatred, before traditions of conflict."
He also acknowledged that "in the Middle East, it's always complicated," with many diplomatic contacts taking place out of the public eye. Yet even with conflict still raging in multiple arenas, he saw "great potential for a better future for the people of the region," including Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians and Iranians.
"We think some of some of what's happening [in the region] is definitely empowering such a trend and enabling leaders and people in our area to take decisions which are more influenced by what's good for them and less by threats of war and terror," Donio-Gideon said.
Quote:The U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, is under heightened scrutiny in Lebanon at a delicate moment for American diplomacy in the region.
Barrack ended his southern Lebanon visit early on Wednesday, after protests opposing U.S. efforts to disarm Hezbollah erupted at two scheduled stops, according to Lebanon's state media and AFP.
...
As part of his regional role, Barrack is engaged with Lebanese leaders on Hezbollah disarmament and regional economic initiatives, where the U.S. aims at countering Iran and limiting the proxy group's military reach against Israel.
While Barrack is navigating a complex web of regional interests, the unfolding events highlight just how fragile the balance of power remains across the Lebanon-Syria-Israel triangle, showing how U.S. envoys under Trump are increasingly landing in hot water.
What To Know
Following controversial comments to journalists, the Lebanese presidency criticized Barrack, adding fuel to an already tense situation as Hezbollah continues to resist disarmament.
Barrack told reporters in Beirut Tuesday to "act civilized" and not be "animalistic," before a press conference scheduled after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Moreover, when asked why the U.S. doesn't engage Iran directly on Hezbollah, Barrack abruptly ended a press conference, replying, 'You think that's not happening? Goodbye,'" according to The Associated Press.
Hezbollah Tensions
The Lebanese government is working on a U.S.-backed proposal hoping to persuade Hezbollah to disarm through non-coercive means, focusing on economic incentives and addressing the needs of fighters funded by Iran.
Barrack said Tuesday that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are prepared to fund an economic zone in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border, aiming to provide jobs for Hezbollah members and supporters who disarm, according to The Associated Press.
Hezbollah has rejected the government's disarmament initiative, with leader Naim Qassem saying that the group will not abandon its weapons, which he claims protect Lebanon from Israeli aggression.
Ali Larijani, the newly appointed secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, defended Hezbollah as a legitimate resistance force, during a visit to the country earlier this month.
Israel has signaled it could withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon if Hezbollah disarms.
Quote:Houthi officials denied Israeli claims that senior leaders were killed in Thursday's air strikes on Yemen's capital Sanaa, calling reports of casualties "fake news."
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the attacks precisely targeted Houthi military and political figures after the group launched missiles and drones toward Israel. Yemeni opposition outlets, however, reported that Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was among those eliminated.
Newsweek has reached out to the IDF for comment.
Why It Matters
The attack underscores the deepening regional spillover of the war in Gaza, with the Houthis escalating cross-border drone and missile assaults against Israel. By striking in Sanaa, Israel demonstrated its willingness to expand operations against Iranian-backed groups it sees as destabilizing the region.
The Houthis' denials, however, highlight the information war accompanying the conflict, with each side seeking to shape perceptions of success and failure.
What To Know
Yemeni outlets aligned with opponents of the Houthis said al-Rahawi was killed in the Bayt Baws neighborhood of Sanaa while in an apartment with several associates. They also reported that the Houthi defense minister and chief of staff were eliminated in a strike near the presidential palace compound during what was described as a cabinet-level meeting.
Israeli sources said they believed the operation was successful, although Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the group's leader, was not present.
A post by an account called The Informant on X shared images purporting to show massive Israeli air strikes on Houthi targets in Sanaa, although their authenticity has not been independently verified.
Israeli Military Confirms Strikes
The IDF said it carried out strikes against what it called "a Houthi terrorist regime military target" in Sanaa. Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved the operation after consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Military officials said the strikes were in response to repeated Houthi attacks, including two drones intercepted on Thursday and a missile launched a day earlier. The operation coincided with a televised speech by al-Houthi, signaling Israel's intent to project deterrence.
Strikes Amid Ongoing Escalation
Thursday's strikes came days after Israeli attacks that killed at least 10 people and injured 92, according to Houthi authorities. Those earlier strikes hit oil and power facilities, although Israel said the targets included military infrastructure near the presidential palace.
The Houthis, for their part, have escalated attacks on Red Sea shipping and continued to fire missiles at Israel in solidarity with Gaza. Israel has vowed to intensify its campaign against the group.
Quote:Iran has "no choice but to become stronger," the country's army chief said Wednesday as the Iranian armed forces continue to gird themselves for more conflict.
The warning by Iranian Major General Amir Hatami comes in the wake of the 12-day conflict with Israel in June, when Israeli and U.S. forces struck Iranian military and nuclear sites, leaving a trail of casualties and inflaming regional tensions.
Newsweek has contacted Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
With all sides on edge, fears of renewed confrontation are mounting, with Hatami's remarks underscoring a fresh drive to strengthen Iran's military capabilities amid a volatile and uncertain geopolitical landscape.
Iran faces growing scrutiny over its nuclear program. Britain, France and Germany—known as the E3—are considering triggering the "snapback" mechanism of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 by the end of August, which would automatically reinstate pre-2015 sanctions if Tehran fails to comply with inspection requirements.
With the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) set to expire on October 18, the stakes are high, carrying potential global consequences for non-proliferation and international diplomacy.
What to Know
Speaking at an event on Wednesday, Hatami stressed the need to build up the military further, declaring: "We need a powerful army to protect our nation. A strong army is one whose every component carries out its missions and duties correctly."
He noted that Iran's strategic position had historically made it a target for external aggression, citing past invasions and conflicts. "This mission is important for every country, but in Iran, due to our strategic and geopolitical position, it is even more significant and exceptional."
12-Day War
The June hostilities began with Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, followed by U.S. airstrikes, prompting Iranian missile retaliation on strategic targets, including the Al-Udeid Air Base used by the U.S. military in Qatar.
The nonprofit group Human Rights Activists in Iran and the Iranian Health Ministry reported that the conflict killed between 935 and 1,190 Iranians, including 38 children and 132 women, and injured over 4,000.
Iranian missile attacks killed 29 Israelis, including one off-duty soldier, and left more than 3,200 injured, according to the Times of Israel.
Missile Defense
Meanwhile, rumors circulating on X and other social media sites included reports that the U.S. had redeployed a THAAD missile defense system from the United Arab Emirates to Israel.
The claims, which Newsweek could not independently verify, highlighted a Bloomberg report this month that said the Pentagon plans to spend $3.5 billion to replace interceptor missiles used during the 12-day war, when Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling systems were heavily engaged against waves of short- and medium-range missiles fired by Iran.
The U.S. Defense Department has yet to disclose any THAAD transfer but typically does not comment on operational movements. The chatter, however, speaks to the strain on Israel and growing concern in the region over the potential for renewed hostilities.
Here's yet another edition of your not so favorite section "Iran is Threatening You Once Again!"
Quote:Iran is threatening to ban inspections if it is hit by new sanctions under a nearly expiring nuclear deal from 2015—a day after allowing inspectors limited access to its Bushehr facility.
Newsweek has contacted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for comment.
Why It Matters
Tehran has remained undeterred by U.S. sanctions, attacks on its nuclear facilities, or the "snapback" mechanism that European countries are preparing to trigger.
The country has enriched uranium to high levels—believed sufficient to build a nuclear bomb—conducted nuclear activityu outside IAEA oversight, and threatened to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, all while insisting its nuclear program is peaceful.
What To Know
If the E3 group of Britain, France and Germany triggers the snapback, "cooperation and interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency will be completely affected and halted," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, said.
Talks in Geneva this week failed to make progress as Iran's commitments were deemed insufficient by the Europeans, raising the stakes for triggering the U.N. sanctions process.
Gharibabadi, who attended the discussions, further warned that Europe would be cut off from direct talks with Iran, and that all negotiations would have to take place under the auspices of the U.N. Security Council.
The IAEA and Western officials say Iran has failed to comply with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear restrictions and are now pressuring Tehran to agree to limits and inspections, aimed at preventing it from advancing toward nuclear weapons.
Iran has allowed IAEA inspectors to monitor fuel at Bushehr, but no new agreement has been reached since inspections were suspended after the 12-day conflict with Israel and the United States.
"Naturally, if the Europeans choose to act based on their political preferences, these ongoing discussions between us and the agency will be affected," Gharibabadi said.
Quote:Iran has accused the United Kingdom, France and Germany of bowing to the United States after the "E3" triggered the snapback mechanism that could reinstate U.N. sanctions on Tehran.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the move signified their "obedience" to the Trump administration, calling it part of a system "where might makes right and where the violator dictates the rules of the game."
The accusation followed the E3's formal notification to the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that sanctions would be restored within 30 days if the top body does not agree on their suspension.
Newsweek has reached out to Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The snapback dispute could tip the fragile Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal once hailed as a breakthrough. Since President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. in 2018, the deal has unraveled amid Iranian challenges.
Tensions surged in June during the 12-day war after Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, with Tehran limiting International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections and escalating instability.
If the E3 succeeds in reinstating U.N. sanctions, the JCPOA could collapse, reviving pre-deal confrontations. For Europe, it signals alarm over Iran's nuclear ambitions; for Tehran, it underscores perceived betrayal and alignment with Washington.
What to Know
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei delivered one of Tehran's strongest reactions in a X post on Friday, arguing that the E3's move was not grounded in "legal necessity or sound judgment" but reflected compliance with the U.S.'s "maximum pressure" directive.
The message was accompanied by an image showing Trump in the Oval Office behind his desk, with several European leaders seated in front of him, highlighting Tehran's claim of European alignment with Washington.
LATIN AMERICA
Quote:Venezuela has announced a significant military mobilization in response to an escalating U.S. naval presence near its shores, as tensions deepened amid accusations of narco-trafficking.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced the deployment of warships, drones, and larger vessels in territorial waters as the government Caracas also submitted a formal letter to the United Nations to denounce what it described as increased U.S. threats.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and the Foreign Ministry of Venezuela for comment.
Why It Matters
This urgent military move highlights a growing confrontation between Washington and Caracas that extends beyond drug policy into broader geopolitical brinkmanship. It risks destabilizing regional security and could provoke escalating responses across Latin America.
The developments underscore how U.S. counter-narcotics posturing intersects with sovereignty disputes, creating a flashpoint with potential ripple effects in the Caribbean and beyond.
What To Know
López announced a deployment of warships and a "significant" drone presence along Venezuela's coastline, along with "larger vessels further north in our territorial waters." At the same time, a video circulating on X across various accounts showed him cautioning the U.S. not to "dare to set foot" on Venezuelan soil, warning that any violation would constitute "an aggression against all of Latin America and the Caribbean."
Separately, Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, ordered the dispatch of 15,000 troops to the Colombia border.
Quote:Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro warned on Thursday that his country could not be invaded, as the United States ramped up its military presence in the southern Caribbean.
"There is no way they can enter Venezuela," Maduro said, calling the U.S. deployment of multiple warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and 4,500 troops a siege that only strengthens his government. The move, part of President Donald Trump's intensified anti-drug cartel operations, has sparked the most serious U.S.-Venezuela confrontation in years.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department and Venezuela's Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The standoff signals Washington's growing willingness to project military force in Latin America, under the banner of countering drug cartels, while simultaneously putting pressure on the Maduro regime.
For Venezuela, the deployment reinforces Maduro's narrative of foreign aggression and allows him to rally domestic support amid mounting political and economic pressures. The escalation also tests regional diplomacy, particularly with Colombia, and challenges the U.N.'s capacity to mediate conflicts in the hemisphere.
What To Know
Speaking at a military ceremony in Caracas, Maduro portrayed the U.S. naval presence as a hostile siege that violates the U.N. Charter. He thanked Colombian President Gustavo Petro for deploying 25,000 troops to support security along their shared border, framing the move as a joint effort to protect Venezuela and the wider border region.
Maduro said civil defense units would continue training weekly and vowed that no foreign power could touch Venezuela's "sacred lands." He also referenced the U.S. bounty on his head, noting that Washington recently doubled it to $50 million for his capture.
U.S. Naval Buildup
Earlier, Admiral Daryl Claude, the U.S. Navy's chief of naval operations, confirmed that U.S. warships were deployed to waters off South America, citing concerns that some Venezuelans were participating in large-scale drug operations, though Washington has made no public threat to invade.
Maduro has been under Trump's scrutiny since returning to the White House in January. U.S. efforts have targeted Venezuela's powerful gangs, while also accusing Maduro of leading the cocaine trafficking network Cartel de los Soles—designated a terrorist organization by the Trump administration.
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9
Maranatha!
The Internet might be either your friend or enemy. It just depends on whether or not she has a bad hair day.
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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
