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Donald Trump Plans to Reinterpret 38-Year-Old Military Treaty: What to Know

President Donald Trump is preparing to reinterpret a decades-old arms control treaty to expand sales of advanced U.S. drones overseas, U.S. officials and people familiar with the plan told Reuters.

The change would reclassify drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper as aircraft rather than missile systems, sidestepping limits imposed by the 35-nation Missile Technology Control Regime, which the United States signed in 1987. The treaty was intended to curb the spread of missiles capable of carrying nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction.

Why It Matters

By altering that interpretation, the administration would allow the United States to market drones the same way it sells fighter jets such as the F-16. The shift could unlock sales to Saudi Arabia, which requested more than 100 MQ-9 drones earlier this year. Reuters reported the sales may fall under a $142 billion arms package announced in 2017. U.S. allies in Europe and the Pacific have also expressed interest.

What To Know

Drones were later added under the MTCR because of their ability to fly long distances with heavy payloads. Under the current interpretation, sales are generally denied unless buyers can prove a compelling security need and pledge to follow international law.

The move is expected to benefit major American manufacturers including General Atomics, Kratos and Anduril. A U.S. official told Reuters the reinterpretation marks the first phase of a broader review of the Foreign Military Sales program. Treating drones as conventional aircraft would allow the State Department to clear sales more quickly.

U.S. firms face stiff competition from China, Israel and Turkey, which have filled demand in the Middle East and beyond. Neither China nor Israel are MTCR members, giving them more freedom to export. Turkey, which joined in 1997, has showcased its Bayraktar-TB2 drone in Ukraine. The lighter aircraft falls outside the strictest MTCR controls, Reuters reported.

Russia, meanwhile, has relied on its own and Iranian-made drones in its war on Ukraine. The United States has resisted selling large drones to Kyiv, fearing the technology could fall into enemy hands.

Human rights and arms control groups warn that easing restrictions risks fueling violence in unstable regions such as the Middle East and South Asia. "It risks ceding long-term security for short-term sales," one advocate told Reuters.

The reinterpretation also revives debate over U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia. President Joe Biden adopted a tougher line in 2021, citing civilian casualties from Riyadh's campaign against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Relations have warmed since then, particularly after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which drew Washington and Riyadh closer together.

The White House is expected to present the reinterpretation as part of Trump's broader effort to create jobs and narrow the trade deficit. "This will allow the U.S. to become the premier drone provider instead of ceding that space to Turkey and China," a U.S. official told Reuters.

Officials stressed that drone sales would still be reviewed under the Foreign Military Sales process, which examines a buyer's regional dynamics, human rights record and ability to protect sensitive technology. But critics argue the emphasis on speed and market share may undercut those safeguards.

Global competition for drones has become fierce, with both military and consumer-based models increasingly seen as essential to modern warfare. Reuters reported that Washington's reinterpretation of the treaty could mark a turning point in how the United States balances arms control with defense industry priorities.

President Trump signed executive orders in June to speed approval of drone flights and boost U.S. dominance in the industry. The measures direct the Federal Aviation Administration to fast-track beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations, launch pilot programs for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, and prioritize American-made drones over foreign suppliers. The White House said the moves are meant to secure U.S. skies while spurring growth in emerging aviation technology.

Last month, Taiwan received a delivery of attack drones from its defense partner, the United States, as the self-governed island continues to face mounting military pressure from neighboring China.

Democrat [MD] Governor [Wes Moore] Gives Clear Indication of Presidential Aspirations

aryland Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, has ruled himself out of the running for a potential 2028 presidential bid.

When asked about his plans for the future on Sunday during an interview appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press, the governor said he planned to seek reelection instead.

Why It Matters

The Democratic Party continues to seek a clear path forward in the aftermath of a clear Republican victory in last year's elections, with President Donald Trump defeating then-Vice President Kamala Harris while Republicans held the House of Representatives and reclaimed the Senate, giving the party total control of the executive and legislative branches.

No clear frontrunner has emerged for the Democrats as the party reeled from the defeat, with much finger-pointing and disagreement about what went wrong, with polls indicating Harris had a strong chance of defeating Trump, and what to do as the country heads towards the 2026 midterms.

What To Know

Moore has gained increased national prominence as Trump looks to expand on his immigration and crime crackdowns, naming Baltimore as one of the cities he would consider deploying National Guard troops in a similar manner to how he did in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.,—the former to aid in detaining and removing illegal immigrants, the latter to handle what he deemed a problem of rampant crime in the nation's capital.

Moore has defended Baltimore, firing back at the president each time about the city's homicide rate, which has fallen to a 50-year low but has remained relatively high compared to other major cities.

"If you are not willing to be part of the solution, keep our names out of your mouth," Moore said at a press conference last month.

Some Democrats have therefore suggested him as a potential nominee in 2028, but Moore has dismissed any such plans.

Speaking with NBC News host Kristen Welker on Sunday, Welker noted that Moore had yet to announce his plans to seek reelection as governor, to which he said he planned to serve out his full term, which would end in 2027, following the 2026 gubernatorial election.

"Yes, I'll be serving a full term. I'm excited about reelection," Moore said. "I'm excited about what I'm going to be able to do for the people of Maryland."

When asked if that means ruling himself out for a bid for president in 2028, Moore said: "Yeah, I'm not running for president," repeating himself when Welker asked him again.

"I'm excited about what we're doing," he said. "That we've gone from 43rd in the country in unemployment to now one of the lowest unemployment rates; we've had amongst the fastest drops in violent crime anywhere in the United States of America."

Moore added: "Our population is growing, Maryland is moving, and so I'm really excited about going back in front of the people of my state and asking for another term."

Chicago Celebrates Mexican Independence Day Events as Trump Threat Looms

Chicago's Mexican Independence Day celebrations proceeded Saturday with heightened security concerns as President Donald Trump's administration escalates threats to deploy National Guard troops and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to the city.

While the actual Mexican Independence Day falls on September 16, events typically span more than a week in Chicago, drawing hundreds of thousands of participants.

Why It Matters

Chicago's Mexican American community represents more than one-fifth of the city's total population and about 74 percent of its Latino residents, according to 2022 U.S. Census estimates.

The threat of federal intervention during Independence Day celebrations—typically a joyful week-long period—has created unprecedented anxiety in neighborhoods like Pilsen and Little Village, where Mexican culture and heritage are deeply embedded in daily life.

Illinois political leaders have rejected Trump's deployment plans, arguing that many cities have higher overall crime rates and that Chicago's murder rate has fallen in recent years after a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What To Know

The Pentagon announced this week it authorized the use of Naval Station Great Lakes, just outside Chicago, as a staging ground for Trump administration operations targeting undocumented immigrants, according to defense officials who spoke to the Washington Post.

The base will serve as a hub for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) missions and could accommodate National Guard or active-duty troops if Trump orders a military surge similar to deployments in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Details about Chicago's planned operation remain sparse, but the announcement has prompted widespread opposition from state and local leaders, who plan to sue the Trump administration.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order last week directing city agencies and law enforcement to resist cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, citing "escalating threats from the federal government." The order represents a direct challenge to the administration's plans for the city.

The Mexican Independence Day celebrations, which officially fall on September 16, have been marked by division among organizers. Some events proceeded with enhanced precautions while others chose postponement. Local businesses in affected neighborhoods report decreased foot traffic and lower sales amid the atmosphere of uncertainty.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Could Be Deported to Tiny African Nation: What To Know

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran national who became one of the faces of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, is reportedly set to be deported to the tiny southern African country of Eswatini.

According to CNN, the Trump administration informed Garcia about the planned deportation on Friday.

Newsweek contacted Garcia's attorney, the Department of Homeland Security and the Eswatini Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for comment via email on Saturday outside regular office hours.

Why It Matters

Trump won the 2024 presidential election with a pledge to crack down on irregular migration to the United States, and according to the Pew Research Center, the number of immigrants in the country has fallen for the first time since the 1960s.

In March, the U.S. deported Garcia to CECOT, a high-security prison in El Salvador, in what the Trump administration said was an administrative error. In June, the government returned Garcia to the U.S., and he is now awaiting trial on federal human trafficking charges, which he denies. His case has raised concerns over the Trump administration's treatment of migrants.

What To Know

On Saturday, CNN reported that it had obtained an email sent to Garcia from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official that said he would be deported to Eswatini.

The southern Africa country is about the size of New Jersey and is ruled as an absolute monarchy.

Previously, the Department of Homeland Security told Garcia it planned to send him to Uganda. Garcia objected to the move, saying he feared being persecuted or tortured, and U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis temporarily blocked his deportation.

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

When CNN asked whether Garcia would be deported to Eswatini, an ICE official replied: "TRUE: An immigration judge ordered him removed and ICE will comply with that order."

In August, Garcia's legal team said the Trump administration offered to deport him to Costa Rica, which offered him legal status, but only if he pleaded guilty to the human trafficking charges.

Citing a "source familiar with his case," CNN reported that Garcia did not accept the officer.

The Trump administration has signed agreements with Eswatini, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan to receive deportees from the U.S.

UKRAINE WAR

Zelensky Issues Challenge To Putin: 'Come To Kyiv'

Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Vladimir Putin come to Kyiv for talks to end the war he started, after rejecting an offer by the Russian leader to go to Moscow.

The Russian president has said he would not travel anywhere for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, although he has suggested he would be open to a meeting in Moscow.

But in an interview with ABC News, the Ukrainian president dismissed this possibility, saying he "can't go to the capital of this terrorist."

Yuriy Boyechko, CEO of Hope for Ukraine, which supports communities on the war's frontline, told Newsweek that Putin's invitation was simply "a strategic move to manipulate" U.S. President Trump, who is pushing for the leaders to meet.

Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment.

Why It Matters

Zelensky's comments come as the prospect of negotiations with Putin to end the war continue to remain distant, despite Trump's insistence in August that he had made a meeting between the leaders a priority.

What To Know
During the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Friday, Putin said that he had no intention of travelling for talks with Zelensky but was open to a meeting with the Ukrainian president in Moscow.

He added that he was "ready" for such a meeting and that Moscow would provide the required security conditions for such a meeting.

However, when asked about such a prospect, Zelensky laughed and shook his head, telling ABC that he could not visit Moscow when his country was facing missile bombardments ordered by Putin every day.

Trump met with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska on August 15 and has made a trilateral meeting between leaders of the U.S., Russia and Ukraine the goal of his summit.

Trump also said a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky would happen after the Ukrainian leader came to the White House.

But Zelensky told ABC that Putin's offer was intended to "postpone the meeting," and that Putin was "playing games with the United States."

Boyechko, from Hope for Ukraine, told Newsweek that Putin's insistence on Zelensky meeting in Moscow was a strategic move to manipulate Trump, shift blame away from Russia, and exploit the U.S. administration's desperation to show progress in the peace process.

The Ukrainian president will never travel to Moscow to meet with Putin due to security concerns, and Putin knows that, said Boyechko.

Putin will keep telling White House officials that he's ready to meet with Zelensky in Moscow, so that Trump feels satisfied and believes his meeting in Alaska achieved something and this way, the blame shifts from Putin to Zelensky, he added.

Putin Ramps Up Military Fortifications on NATO Border

Russia is set to increase fortifications by its border with Finland amid heightened tensions between Moscow and the new NATO member.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, said Moscow was beefing up its infrastructure at the border in response to the Nordic country joining the military alliance in 2023.

Medvedev's announcement follows the opening of a new NATO regional land forces command center in Finland near the frontier with its neighbor.

Newsweek has contacted the Finnish Foreign Ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

Since Finland joined NATO in 2023, spurred by Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine after decades of nonalignment, Helsinki has accused Moscow of hybrid warfare in the region, including GPS jamming, cyberattacks and stoking a migrant crisis.

Medvedev, a former president of Russia and an ally of incumbent President Vladimir Putin, has been known to make belligerent comments against the West, which have likely been approved by the Kremlin. His announcement suggests Russia may treat neighboring Finland as an adversary, meaning Moscow may be planning military exercises, airspace violations or border incidents that could provoke or intimidate.

What To Know

During a visit to a border crossing at Svetogorsk in Russia's Leningrad region, Medvedev said on Friday that Russia must "increase the reliability of border protection" in response to Finland's NATO membership.

He said construction was underway of "walls and other barriers" and warned that Moscow was prepared for potential "unfriendly acts" from Finland, whose accession to NATO had forced changes in Russia's military approaches to the frontier, Russian state media reported.

Earlier this week, a new NATO regional land forces command center opened in Mikkeli, Finland, near the border with Russia.

These headquarters are set to host about 10 officers, eventually swelling to 50, and are expected to be under NATO's Norfolk Command in the United States to coordinate allied land forces in northern Europe, including joint planning and exercises.

Finland has approved a NATO rail link through Sweden to Norway's Arctic port of Narvik to allow faster troop and heavy equipment deployment and reduce dependence on Russian-gauge tracks.

What People Are Saying

Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said: "Walls and barriers are being built. We need to increase the reliability of the protection of the state border."

He added: "We cannot ignore the fact that Finland is a member of the North Atlantic Alliance. And this predetermines a change in our military approaches to the border and repelling possible unfriendly acts."

Ukraine Government Building Hit for First Time in Massive Russian Attack

A key government building in Kyiv was damaged and four people across the country were killed on Sunday in Russia's largest aerial attack on Ukraine since war broke out.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X that strikes damaged the Cabinet of Ministers building, resulting in a fire breaking out on the upper floors.

Why It Matters

The Cabinet of Ministers building houses senior Ukrainian ministers and sits in a heavily defended area of central Kyiv that, until Sunday, had not sustained direct damage in the months of wide-ranging strikes since Russia's 2022 invasion.

The escalation comes amid stalled peace efforts and increased international calls for more sanctions against Russia and military support for Ukraine.

What To Know

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched a wave of drones and missiles overnight—reporting over 800 drones and 13 missiles—and that air defenses shot down and suppressed the majority.

The strikes included 810 Shahed-type attack unmanned aerial vehicles and drones of various types, nine Iskander-K cruise missiles and four Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, the air force said on Telegram.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, four people were killed and 44 others injured in strikes that reached at least 33 locations across the country. "Such killings now, when real diplomacy could have started long ago, are a deliberate crime and a prolongation of the war," Zelenskyy said, in a statement shared on X.

In Kyiv alone, local officials said at least 10 sites were damaged. A drone hit a nine-story residential building in Sviatoshynskyi district, and another damaged a four-story building in Darnytskyi district.

Two of the dead in the capital were a mother and her 3-month-old child. Their bodies were recovered from the rubble, according to Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's city administration.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the strike targeted drone facilities, military air bases, an industrial plant, and a logistics center. The ministry stated that "all designated objects were hit" and insisted "no strikes were carried out on other objects within the borders of Kyiv," possibly referencing the damage to the government complex.

What People Are Saying

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X: "It has been repeatedly said in Washington that sanctions will follow a refusal to talk. We must implement everything that was agreed in Paris. We also count on the implementation of all the agreements to strengthen our air defense.

"Every additional system saves civilians from these vile strikes. The world can force the Kremlin criminals to stop the killings—all that is needed is political will. I thank everyone who is helping."

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Telegram: "For the first time, the government building was damaged by an enemy attack, including the roof and upper floors."

French President Emmanuel Macron said on X: "Russia has once again rained down hundreds of drones and a dozen missiles on Ukraine overnight, striking indiscriminately — including residential areas and the seat of government.

"My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Together with Ukraine and our partners, we stand for peace. Russia, meanwhile, is locking itself ever deeper into the logic of war and terror."

Donald Trump Says He'd 'Love' to Host Putin, Xi at Miami G20

President Donald Trump expressed enthusiasm on Friday for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the G20 summit of world leaders in Florida next year.

When asked if he expected the Russian and Chinese leaders to attend the G20 meeting at Trump National Doral Miami golf course, Trump replied, "I'd love them to if they want to."

He added that he would not attend this year's G20 summit in South Africa.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian and Chinese foreign ministries for comment.

Why It Matters

The G20 includes Russia and China as well as the European Union (EU) and the African Union but a war crimes arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) meant Putin did not attend last year's event in Brazil.

Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 may have led to his isolation from the West but Kremlin media hailed his meeting with Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, last month as a sign he was being brought back into the fold.

The U.S. does not recognize the ICC but if Putin accepts a G20 summit invitation, this could be tricky diplomatically for other world leaders present. Also, the presence on American soil of Xi would raise the event's stakes.

What To Know

Apart from the G20 member states, the EU, and the African Union, Trump said Friday he wanted to invite additional observers, including Poland.

When asked if Putin and Xi might attend, Trump said he would "love them to" and that they could attend as "observers," although both countries they lead are already full members of the group.

Xi last visited the U.S. in 2023 when he went to San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Putin met with Trump in Alaska as part of Washington-led efforts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, although there was no breakthrough.

This week, Trump took a swipe at the show of solidarity between Putin and Xi, along with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who recently attended a parade in Beijing that marked Japan's surrender in WWII, as he accused them of conspiring against the United States.

Trump had planned to hold a G7 summit at his Miami resort in 2020 but abandoned the idea after criticism over potential conflicts of interest. He said Friday the venue was ideal because "it's right next to the airport."

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump told reporters Friday when asked whether the leaders of China and Russia could come to Miami for the G20: "I'd love them too, if they want to."

He added: "I'm not sure they want to be an observer. If they want to, we can certainly talk."

ASIA

Japan's Prime Minister Resigns After Historic Election Defeat

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Sunday that he will resign as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and instructed the party to hold an emergency leadership election, while saying he will continue performing prime ministerial duties until a successor is chosen.

Ishiba's decision follows successive electoral defeats that left the LDP without majorities in both chambers of Japan's parliament and comes after his administration negotiated a trade protocol with the United States that addressed Washington's tariff measures—developments analysts say deepen political uncertainty for the world's fourth-largest economy.

Why It Matters

Ishiba's resignation heightens the risk of a prolonged period of policy gridlock at a time when Japan faces slow growth, rising living costs and regional security challenges, and when markets have already reacted to political uncertainty.

What To Know

Ishiba, 68, became prime minister in October 2024 and led the LDP into elections in which the ruling coalition lost its majority in the lower house for the first time in 15 years and then lost its majority in July's upper house vote for the first time since the party's founding in 1955.

In late August and early September, Ishiba's government completed negotiations with the U.S. that resulted in an agreement reducing tariffs on many Japanese auto exports and an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump to lower certain levies—an outcome Ishiba cited as a reason to step down now.

At a Sunday news conference, Ishiba said: "With Japan having signed the trade agreement and the president having signed the executive order, we have passed a key hurdle." He added: "I would like to pass the baton to the next generation."

Potential successors include the 44-year-old Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who would become the country's youngest prime minister, and Sanae Takaichi, according to economist Kazutaka Maeda, who also said in an interview with Reuters that markets would scrutinize a shift toward looser fiscal or monetary policy.

Takaichi narrowly lost to Ishiba in last year's party run-off leadership election and is known for her expansionary fiscal proposals and skepticism of the Bank of Japan's rate increases. She would be Japan's first female prime minister if she were to succeed her erstwhile rival. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi is another possible successor.

What People Are Saying

Kazutaka Maeda, an economist at Meiji Yasuda Research Institute told Reuters: "Given the political pressure mounting on Ishiba after the LDP's repeated election losses, his resignation was inevitable."

The previous article somehow implies Trump is to be partially blamed for Ishida's defeat because of his recent tariff deal agreement. Yet, another news outlet points out that his exit might have been triggered by Japan's African Hometown program instead.

South Korea Issues Update on Georgia Hyundai Plant ICE Raid

South Korea said it has reached an agreement with the U.S. to repatriate hundreds of South Korean nationals who were arrested during a U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai–LG electric vehicle battery construction site in Georgia on Thursday.

Newsweek has emailed the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and South Korea's embassy in Washington, D.C. for comment.

Why It Matters
The detained workers were connected to one of the largest Korean investments in the U.S.—a Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution battery joint venture—which U.S. officials and state leaders have promoted as a major job-creation project. The arrests paused construction and raised questions about how multinational investments will be staffed amid tighter visa rules and heightened immigration enforcement.

What To Know

U.S. immigration agents arrested 475 people at the Ellabell, Georgia, construction site on Thursday. At least 300 of those detained were South Korean nationals, the country's foreign ministry said.

U.S. officials described the operation as the largest single-site enforcement action in Department of Homeland Security history and said those detained were in the U.S. illegally or working without authorization.

Seoul said it would send a chartered plane once remaining administrative steps were cleared and pledged to review visa procedures for business trips tied to large investment projects.

"We will not let our guard down until we have our people safely back home," Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, said at a meeting of senior officials, according to The New York Times.

The immigration operation followed a months-long investigation into alleged illegal hiring practices at the Hyundai site. According to court records cited by The Associated Press, U.S. prosecutors said they have not yet determined which company or contractor hired "hundreds of illegal aliens."

Some of the detainees had entered the country unlawfully, while others arrived on temporary visas or through a waiver program that does not allow employment, according to Steven Schrank, the lead Georgia agent of Homeland Security Investigations.

Attorney Charles Kuck, who represents two detained workers, told AP his clients arrived under the visa waiver program and were in the country legally for tourism or business. He said one had been in the U.S. for only two weeks and the other for 45 days, both planning to return home soon.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson Lindsay Williams told AP that some individuals were detained due to prior criminal records and added, "Once citizens have identified themselves, we have no authority" to detain them. Hyundai stated Friday that it believed none of its direct employees were among those detained and said it was reviewing its practices to ensure legal compliance by contractors and subcontractors.

China Hits Back at Major US Visa Crackdown: 'Slanders'

Beijing has accused the U.S. of "groundless accusations and slanders" after Washington launched a visa crackdown on Central American nationals suspected of working on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The U.S. Department of State has announced a new policy targeting certain Central American nationals, restricting visas for individuals it says direct, fund, support or carry out activities that weaken governance in Central America.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., has condemned the move, telling Newsweek in a statement that the U.S. was "deliberately sowing discord" between China and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

When contacted for a response, the State Department told Newsweek on Saturday it was "committed to addressing CCP influence that threatens our national security and economic interests and those of our neighbors."

Why It Matters

The Trump administration's hard-line approach to immigration and foreign influence has restricted visa access and tightened eligibility standards in a policy Washington says seeks to protect U.S. national security and counter foreign interference.

China's presence in Central America has grown through trade, infrastructure and diplomatic engagement. China has invested in the region's ports, energy and telecommunications, which U.S. officials fear pose risks to national security.

Beijing's response to measures Washington says are needed to curb Chinese influence in the U.S. is likely to add to tensions between the countries.

What To Know

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the new policy to restrict U.S. visas for Central American nationals who intentionally act on behalf of the CCP.

Those who knowingly direct, authorize, fund, provide significant support to or carry out activities that undermine the rule of law in Central America will be targeted, according to Rubio, and they—along with their immediate family—will be ineligible to come to the U.S.

He added that the U.S. would continue to "promote accountability for Central American nationals who intentionally work with the CCP in Central America and destabilize our hemisphere."

The Chinese Embassy in Washington told Newsweek in a statement that Beijing adhered to the principle of noninterference in other countries' internal affairs, strictly observed international laws and respected the judicial sovereignty of all countries.

It added that China carried out practical cooperation with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

China accused the U.S. of "wantonly interfering in normal cooperation between China and LAC countries, interfering the internal affairs of LAC countries, and abusing visa sanctions," adding, "We firmly oppose it."

A State Department spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement that the Trump administration had clear that China's expansion into the Western Hemisphere posed risks to U.S. national security and prosperity.

"Visa restrictions on individuals intentionally acting on behalf of the CCP in Central America, the United States underscores our dedication to protecting U.S. sovereignty, upholding the rule of law, and maintaining strong partnerships," the spokesperson's statement added.

Report: Trump Proposes Last-Minute Hostage Deal; Passed by Witkoff via Civilian to Hamas

President Donald Trump’s administration has proposed a last-minute hostage deal that would see all of the remaining Israeli hostages released in exchange for ending the war in Gaza. Hamas has yet to accept it.

The proposal was conveyed to Hamas via civilian Gershom Baskin, a civilian and columnist whose interest in Israeli-Palestinian peace led him to develop contacts that, in turn, led to a deal for hostage Gilad Shalit in 2011.

That deal has since been widely criticized, since many prominent Hamas leaders were among the more than 1,000 convicted terrorists that Israel exchanged for Shalit — including October 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar.

Nevertheless, with a major Israeli offensive on Gaza City looming, and hundreds of thousands of protesters in the streets of Tel Aviv demonstrating for a deal, the Trump administration has decided to give it one more try.

The Times of Israel reported Sunday:

The United States has conveyed to the Hamas terror group a new set of principles for a comprehensive deal to end the war in Gaza, the Kan public broadcaster reported Sunday.
…
According to the Kan report, the US presented Hamas with a hostage deal proposal that, while not fully fleshed out, outlines a set of principles for future negotiations.

The report said the proposal was conveyed to the terror group via Gershon Baskin, a key Israeli negotiator in the deal that led to the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit from Hamas captivity in 2011 in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian terror convicts.

Israel has said that merely releasing some hostages is not enough: all of the hostages must be released at once, and Hamas must agree to disarm. Hamas has refused the latter, hoping to rearm and return to power.

There are about 48 hostages still in Gaza, of whom at most 20 are presumed to be alive.

Israel Eliminates Terrorist Who Boasted of Killing Jews; Calls His Family to Confirm

Israel eliminated the Palestinian terrorist who called his parents to brag that he had murdered ten Jews on October 7, 2023, according to reports in the Israeli media on Saturday, citing Palestinian media sources.

As Breitbart News reported at the time, the terrorist called his family using a dead Israeli woman’s cell phone. His father was proud of what he had done, while his mother sounded more concerned for his welfare.
[X Post]
The terrorist made it back to Gaza — but is now dead.

The Jerusalem Post reported:

Mahmoud Afana, a Gazan terrorist who boasted of murdering ten Israelis on October 7, was killed in an Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah on Thursday, Israeli media reported on Saturday, citing Palestinian reports.
…
Afana infiltrated Kibbutz Mefalsim and made the call to his parents while he was still in the kibbutz.

“Open your WhatsApp and look at all the killed [Israelis]. Look at how many I killed with my own hands, your son killed Jews!” he was heard in the recording.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had killed Afana in remarks at the opening of his Cabinet meeting on Sunday.

He said: “We are eliminating Nukhba terrorists who played a significant role in the October 7 massacre, including the accursed terrorist who called his parents and took pride in having personally murdered 10 Israelis.”

Netanyahu added: “Now we called the family and informed it that this terrorist has been eliminated. It is a clear message that we will reach them all.”