News of the World
6 hours ago
UKRAINE WAR
Quote:NATO has launched an "Eastern Sentry" to bolster the defense of Europe's eastern flank following Russia's drone breach of Poland's airspace earlier this week, Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced Friday.
"It's reckless and unacceptable. We can't have Russian drones entering allied airspace," Rutte said.
Why It Matters
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has accused Moscow of deliberately violating sovereign airspace by sending 19 Russian drones into Polish airspace on Tuesday evening. The drones were immediately shot down.
The incident is the largest drone breach of NATO airspace, and the first time a member of the alliance has engaged Russian military assets over its territory. It is also a major escalation of tensions between NATO and Russia, which have edged closer to conflict over the Ukraine war.
What To Know
On Friday, speaking at a joint press conference with Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus G. Grynkewich, Rutte said that the Eastern Sentry would add "flexibility and strength" to NATO's posture.
The announcement follows a meeting by the North Atlantic Council where allies expressed solidarity with Poland and denounced Russia's actions.
What Is NATO's New Eastern Sentry?
Operation Eastern Sentry aims to boost NATO's defenses along its eastern flank in Europe, from the Baltic States in the north down through countries like Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, in response to escalating Russian aggression, including its recent drone incursions into Polish airspace.
It includes a range of military assets, including fighter jets, naval units, and air and ground‐based systems.
NATO members, including Denmark, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, have all pledged their support for the mission, with the number of allies growing.
Denmark will contribute two F-16s and an anti-air warfare frigate. France has pledged three Rafale twin-jet fighter aircraft, and Germany will provide four Eurofighters to the Eastern Sentry mission. Rutte said the additional forces would help NATO deter aggression and safeguard Europe's eastern flank.
Rutte added that NATO members in Europe and North America would work together to protect critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
"This is why we have forward land forces deployed in eight countries, with contributions from every Ally supporting these contingents, and plans in place to scale up our presence if and when required," Rutte said.
Quote:Poland has scrambled aircraft in a "preventative" operation in local airspace amid renewed threat of Russian drone strikes on nearby Ukrainian territories, according to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.
The threat has forced authorities to close the airport in the Polish city of Lublin, and air sirens have sounded across more than half a dozen counties.
However, the operation concluded shortly after, with the Polish Armed Forces reporting that it'll continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and remain in constant readiness to ensure the security of national airspace.
Why It Matters
Poland remains on high alert after 19 Russian drones violated its airspace earlier this week. None of the drones appeared to target Poland but were merely traveling its airspace to strike at targets in Eastern Ukraine.
Polish forces, in partnership with some North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally aircraft, shot down some of the drones. Officials then invoked NATO Article 4 in response.
The attack raised significant questions about Russia's motives amid its ongoing war with Ukraine that began in February 2022, with NATO launching an "Eastern Sentry" to bolster defenses along the alliance's eastern flank.
Moscow has rejected accusations that it intentionally targeted Poland, with Kremlin propagandists pushing the line that Russia is being unfairly accused.
What To Know
Alerts started appearing on Saturday on the official profile of the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces account on X warning that the forces have scrambled aircraft and activated ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems.
The first alert went out at around 10:30 a.m. ET (5:30 p.m. local time), citing the "threat of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) strikes in regions of Ukraine bordering Poland."
Polish and allied aircraft scrambled in response, but the Polish command stressed that "these actions are preventative in nature and are aimed at securing the airspace and protecting citizens, particularly in areas adjacent to the threatened regions," according to a translation of the post.
The operation continued for around two hours, with a follow-up post at 12:35 p.m. announcing that the operation had concluded and all systems had resumed "standard operational activities."
Quote:Donald Trump has said he was ready to impose "major sanctions" against Moscow and issued a challenge to NATO to stop importing Russian oil and help end the war in Ukraine.
The U.S. president said on Truth Social that such a move, coupled with increased tariffs on China, would help end "this deadly but ridiculous war."
Trump said If NATO did as he said, the war would end quickly, but if not, "you are just wasting my time."
Newsweek has contacted NATO for comment.
Why It Matters
Despite western-led sanctions to curb energy earnings, Moscow still receives significant oil export income every month, often via its "shadow fleet" of tankers.
According to Friends of Europe, an independent think tank, in 2024 Russia took in $16.4bn from oil sales, five percent more than in 2023.
However, in June, Newsweek reported that Russia's sanctions-hit economy has been left reeling by falling fossil fuel revenues and a slump in profitability in the country's oil refineries.
Figures released by Russia's state statistics agency Rosstat at the time showed nearly a halving of profits from oil and gas, essential commodities for balancing the books.
Trump's statement suggests he would target this key revenue generator to punish Vladimir Putin for dragging his feet on a peace deal in Ukraine, and it also puts the onus to help end the war on NATO, which Trump has criticized for not doing enough.
What To Know
Trump issued a challenge to NATO countries on Truth Social in which he said that he was ready to introduce "major sanctions on Russia" when all NATO nations had agreed to do the same thing, and stopped buying oil from Russia.
He said that the alliance's commitment to win against Russia in Ukraine was "far less than 100 percent" , "and the purchase of Russian oil, by some, has been shocking" weakening the negotiating position over Moscow.
It is unclear which countries Trump was referring to, given that sanctions on Russian oil were imposed by the G7 and the EU and led to Moscow selling more to India and China, who are not members of NATO, to make up the shortfall.
Trump has imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing its imports of Russian oil, although China faces no similar action.
The U.S. leader's Truth Social post said such sanctions plus NATO, as a group, placing 50 percent to 100 percent tariffs on China until the end of the war would precipitate peace.
Trump also called it "Biden's and Zelensky's WAR" without mentioning Putin, adding that if NATO did what he said, the conflict would end quickly and if not "you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States."
Quote:Russia's Defense Ministry on Sunday shared footage it said showed its forces test-firing an advanced hypersonic missile in the Barents Sea.
Why It Matters
Russia is carrying out large-scale military drills, dubbed Zapad 2025, which kicked off on Friday. The exercises are split across Russia and key ally Belarus, as well as in the Baltic and Barents Seas.
Russia regularly holds military drills, but Zapad 2025 started just after nearly 20 Russian drones crossed over into NATO member Poland in what the country's Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, called a "test" for the alliance.
What To Know
Crew members aboard the Admiral Golovko, a frigate with the Northern Fleet, fired a Zircon missile at a sea target in the Barents Sea, Russia's government said on Sunday. The Admiral Golovko has been known to carry Zircon missiles for several years.
"The target was destroyed by a direct hit," Moscow said in a post to messaging app Telegram along with footage it said showed the missile launch. The area was closed ahead of time to aircraft and civilian shipping, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Newsweek could not independently verify the footage.
The Zircon missile, sometimes referred to as Tsirkon or SS-N-33, has been billed by Russia as able to travel up to 1,000 kilometers, around 620 miles, and reach speeds of Mach 9, which is nine times the speed of sound.
It is "strategically valuable due primarily to its speed," according to the U.S. nonprofit, the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.
Ukrainian analysts said in February 2024 they had evidence Russia had used the missile in combat for the first time.
Russia has also used the Kinzhal missile in Ukraine, another hypersonic weapon. It can be launched from Russia's Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, which have also carried out strikes on "mock enemy targets" during the first days of the Zapad drills.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in early 2023 that the Zircon, among other missiles billed as the country's "next-generation" weapons, would "reliably protect Russia from potential external threats and will help ensure the national interests of our country."
Russia has a huge military presence on the Kola Peninsula, which overlooks the Barents, including housing much of Moscow's prized Northern Fleet and its all-important nuclear submarines.
The Kremlin has expanded its military footprint across the Arctic more generally, and its stance in the region is a "grave concern" for NATO, Iceland's foreign minister, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, previously told Newsweek.
The Baltic Sea is sometimes referred to as a "NATO lake" because it is mostly surrounded by member nations, while the Barents Sea looks out onto Russia's Kola Peninsula, as well as Norway, an alliance country.
What People Are Saying
Russian President Vladimir Putin has lauded the Zircon as "unmatched globally."
Russia's New Radar Station Sparks Fresh Confrontation Fears
Quote:The construction of an antenna complex in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad shows Moscow is preparing for a larger and prolonged confrontation with Europe, an open-source analyst group has told Newsweek.
Reports of a large-scale facility being built in the Russian region bordered by NATO members Lithuania and Poland had raised concerns in the defense community over its implications for Europe's security architecture.
Tochnyi, the open-source intelligence (OSINT) project that reports on the war in Ukraine and first revealed the construction, told Newsweek it was something "unprecedented in the Russian military domain."
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
Kaliningrad hosts S-400 air defense systems, Iskander ballistic missile units and naval assets of the Baltic Fleet and is expected to be a focal point in the event of hostilities breaking out between Russia and NATO.
Reports of an expanding communications site only miles from the Polish border will add weight to warnings from NATO's eastern flank members about Moscow's military intentions extending beyond its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, though Lithuania has recently played down the threat posed by Russia's construction of a suspected listening station near its border.
What To Know
Tochnyi said in August that construction was near completion on the facility in the Chernyakhovsky district of the Kaliningrad region, which had developed into a military-grade antenna array designed for radio intelligence or communication.
Satellite imagery released in August showed the development between March 2023 and August 2025 of the antenna array, which could span up to 1,600 meters (over 5,200 feet) in diameter.
Tochnyi told Newsweek that this Over The Horizon (OTH) radar, known as Container 29B6, was part of a larger radar system across Russia.
This system typically includes both a transmitting site and a receiving site but only the transmission site had been identified in Kaliningrad.
Amid a debate over whether the site's circular shape could be useful for OTH radars, Tochnyi said its design highlighted its uniqueness when compared to all the other known 29B6 installations in other parts of Russia.
Tochnyi said it was challenging to fully define the capabilities of the site in Kaliningrad, but it features eight sets of antenna. Six of these have diameters that align closely with the frequencies of a typical Krug system used for Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) operations.
The larger set of antennas, with a diameter of 1,600 meters and above, seem well-suited for very low-frequency transmission often used for communicating with submarines and can reach nearly everywhere in the world, it said.
Romania Condemns Russia for Drone Entering Its Airspace
Quote:Russian drone activity spilling into NATO territory is "unacceptable and reckless," Romania's foreign minister has said, after authorities in the country said one of Moscow's uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) violated its airspace.
"Romania condemns Russia's behavior and takes the necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security," Oana Toiu said in a statement published on social media late on Saturday.
Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry via email for comment.
Why It Matters
On Wednesday, Poland said its military, supported by other NATO countries, had shot down three of the nearly 20 Russian drones that crossed over into its airspace. Moscow denied it had targeted the NATO country.
Russian drones have crossed into NATO territory a number of times since the start of full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022. The drones straying into NATO territory had not been deemed intentional attacks, but the incidents stoke the fire of tensions between the alliance and the Kremlin, at its worst point in decades.
What To Know
Two F-16 fighter jets tracked a Russian drone close to the Danube River until it left Romanian airspace "without causing any damage or casualties" nearly an hour later, Toiu said.
Romania's Defense Ministry said the aircraft had detected the drone at 6:23 p.m. local time and tracked it to roughly 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from the village of Chilia Veche, which sits directly across the river from Ukraine. The drone then disappeared from the country's radar, Bucharest said.
The Danube River marks the border between Romania and southwestern Ukraine, which frequently comes under Russian attack.
Two German Eurofighter aircraft "were also ready in the air monitoring the situation," the minister said. Five German fighter jets are currently stationed in Romania for a rotation of NATO's mission to protect the alliance's airspace.
"People in Romania were never in danger, but such actions by Russia are unacceptable and reckless," Toiu said, adding Bucharest was in "constant contact" with the European Union and NATO.
Polish authorities separately said on Sunday that they had not confirmed any violations of the country's airspace after fighter jets were scrambled on Saturday afternoon.
Poland's military said earlier in the weekend it had put its ground-based air defense and radar systems on the "highest state of readiness" after Russia launched drone strikes on regions of Ukraine bordering Poland. The weather could have tricked the sensors, Warsaw's operational command said.
Ukraine's air force said early on Saturday that Moscow had launched 164 drones of various types, including one-way strike drones. The Ukrainian military later warned a Russian drone was moving west in the Volyn region, which sits east of Poland.
"This is a warning not only to Poland, but to all of Europe," Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said late on Saturday. "Russian drones can travel much greater distances."
On Friday, NATO launched what it dubbed "Eastern Sentry," designed to bolster the alliance's flank on Russia's border after Moscow's drone incursions into Poland. Denmark will put forward two F-16 fighter jets and an anti-air warfare frigate, while France will contribute three Rafale jets and Germany four Eurofighters, the alliance said in a press release.
The initiative will "make clear that, as a defensive alliance, we are always ready to defend," NATO chief Mark Rutte said, adding Russian UAVs crossing into Poland were "not an isolated incident."
"While a full assessment of the incident is ongoing, NATO is not waiting, we are acting," said NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich.
Toiu said the European Union should "rapidly" adopt a planned 19th sanctions package against Russia and employ "the full spectrum of measures" of Eastern Sentry.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has resisted punishing Russia with sanctions, despite his administration's attempts to broker a peace deal in Ukraine, said on Saturday he was "ready" to place "major" sanctions on Russia when all NATO countries agree to "do the same thing" and stop buying oil from Russia.
"I am ready to "go" when you are," Trump said in a post to his Truth Social platform.
Turkey, a NATO member, is the third-largest importer of Russian fossil fuels, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The European Union, which shares many of its members with NATO, is the fourth-largest buyer of fossil fuels from Moscow, much of which is liquefied natural gas, according to the research organization.
Russian commander mocks complaining soldier, says cooks have been thrown into battle in Ukraine war
Quote:A Russian military commander was overheard berating his “useless” soldier fighting in southern Ukraine, telling him in an embarrassing phone call that they’ve resorted to throwing cooks into the frontlines because he “can’t f–king win” the war.
“There are no f–king people, everyone has left,” the furious military head was heard shouting, during a minute-long intercepted call released Friday by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence.
The tongue-lashing starts with the unnamed soldier complaining he was tired and begging his commander for a ride.
“I can’t start moving,” the Russian attack pilot, fighting in the critical Zaporizhzhia region, lamented. “My knees are so weak, I can’t even step on them.”
But his plea for compassion fell on deaf ears as his superior launched into a profanity-laced tirade.
“You want the company commander to take the wheel for you and come down to roll you around? Do I understand you correctly?” he mocked the soldier. “There are no f–king people, everyone has left, the cooks are already going into battle because you can’t f–king win.
“They brought the cooks here, they brought the communication operators, they’ve already f–king been killed,” the commander raged.
It is unclear when exactly the call took place.
Russian advances in Zaporizhzhia — one of the coveted frontline regions of the war, where Russian strongman Vladimir Putin’s men control 75% of the territory — have stalled in recent weeks, according to Ukrainian intelligence pointing, in part, to Moscow’s “own incompetence.”
“Because of this, the Kremlin command throws everyone into the assault – the wounded, the seriously ill, cooks, drivers, signalers, drone operators and others,” the defense service said in a press release.
Thousands in Poland sign up for military training over fears of Russia attack
Quote:Thousands of Polish civilians have enlisted in military training as the nation braces for a potential Russian strike after Moscow’s recent drone incursion into the NATO nation.
More than 20,000 Poles have turned to voluntary military training this year — a number expected to double by the end of 2025 — as the country’s army swells with professional soldiers and ordinary citizens ready to defend their families, according to the head of Poland’s Central Military Recruitment Centre.
“I’d do anything to keep my child safe,” Agnieszka Jedruszak, a 36-year-old office administrator clad in combat gear and camouflage painted streaked across her face, told Reuters.
“And I would definitely want to fight to protect him. It’s always somewhere in the back of my mind: the thought that something could happen.”
Even as she navigates everyday life, the doting mother said she wants to be ready for “a new reality.”
Grezegorz Wawrzynkiewicz, head of Poland’s recruitment center, said the number of civilian volunteers has more than doubled the 16,000 who joined in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While volunteers train alongside service members, they are not assigned to regular units unless they formally enlist – forming a rapid-response force ready to support Poland’s military, the third-largest in NATO – in times of threat.
Fears of a looming attack in Poland intensified Wednesday after nearly two dozen Russian drones were shot down as far as 150 miles inside the NATO nation’s airspace.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at least 19 objects entered the country’s airspace Tuesday night, with the Russian drones intercepted in areas much deeper into Poland than at any previous incident during the Ukraine war.
Tusk described the overnight incident as “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two.”
Russia kills 4 in heavy blitz on Donetsk, Ukraine as Kremlin all but dashes hope of resuming peace talks
Quote:Russia slammed Ukraine with bombings overnight, killing at least four civilians while targeting areas in the key battleground Donetsk region — just one day after the Kremlin all but dashed hopes for an end to the war.
The city of Kostiantynivka was shelled for nearly an hour with rockets, destroying 14 homes in a residential district, Donetsk Prosecutor’s Office said.
Three civilians died and seven others were injured in the Russian onslaught.
The industrial eastern city has been under constant attack in recent weeks, with strikes destroying critical infrastructure and leaving many residents without electricity and water.
The barrage comes as Russian forces have focused in on the coveted Donetsk region, which has been described as “the ball game” in the deadly conflict.
Further north in Kharkiv, one man was also killed and two others injured in another overnight attack, with bombs and rockets destroying homes and farms, Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office said.
The Saturday strikes come just one day after a Kremlin spokesperson said peace negotiations were “on pause,” while slamming Europe’s promise of post-war security guarantees for Ukraine as a dealbreaker toward talks.
“The fact that the Europeans are hindering this is indeed true,” said spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. “This is not a secret to anyone.
“For now, it is probably more accurate to say that there is a pause.”
Delegation for the warring countries have not met for talks since July, despite a push from President Trump and the US.
“One cannot simply put on rose-tinted glasses and expect that the negotiation process will yield lightning-fast results,” Peskov added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeated his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin will only come to the table when his war chest is empty.
“The Russian war machine will only stop when it runs out of fuel,” Zelenskyy said at a conference Friday. “And Putin will start to stop it himself when he feels, truly, that the resources for the war are running low.”
Ukraine Launches Drone Barrage on Russian Oil Refinery
Quote:Ukrainian drones struck a large oil refinery in northwestern Russia overnight that ignited a fire, according to Russian and Ukrainian officials.
Newsweek reached to the foreign ministries of Ukraine and Russia on Sunday for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, years after the country annexed Crimea in 2014. Moscow has since claimed parts of Ukraine, with Ukraine and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations seeking to defend the country's territorial integrity. The over three-years long war has displaced millions and killed large numbers of civilians and soldiers.
European leaders voiced alarm after Warsaw said Polish forces shot down several Russian drones that crossed into the country on Wednesday, the first direct military engagement of a NATO country since Russia's 2022 invasion.
Amid inflamed tensions, Moscow and Belarus have been conducting military exercises nearby, placing neighboring countries on high alert. Poland has closed its border to Belarus, Russia's close ally, and NATO has launched an "Eastern Sentry" to bolster the defense of Europe's eastern flank, Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced Friday.
What To Know
Drones are a central weapon in the conflict, and Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, especially oil facilities which Kyiv believes funds Moscow's ongoing war.
President Donald Trump called out NATO members for buying Russian oil, writing in a Saturday Truth Social post, "I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA."
Some NATO members still buy oil from Russia, like Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia.
Overnight Saturday, more than 360 drones targeted an oil refinery in northwestern Russia, according to Reuters. The Kirishi refinery produces over 6 percent of the country's total crude oil, around 17.7 million metric tons per year, the Associated Press reported. The facility is about 800 miles from Ukraine's border and was previously targeted back in March.
The General Staff of Ukraine posted a photo of the reported fire on X, and noted in Ukrainian that the "refinery is one of the largest oil refineries in the Russian Federation. This facility produces about 80 types of petroleum products."
No one has reported injured, and Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko said three drones were downed and the blaze was extinguished, per the AP.
EUROPE
Quote:Tens of thousands of protesters marched through central London on Saturday, carrying flags of England and Britain, for a demonstration organized by the anti-immigrant and anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson.
Police have said they will have a huge presence in the British capital. A “Stand Up to Racism” counter protest is also due to meet nearby, following a highly charged summer in Britain that has seen protests over immigration and free speech.
By midday tens of thousands of protesters were packed into streets south of the River Thames, before heading towards Westminster, seat of the UK parliament.
Demonstrators carried the Union flag of Britain and the red and white St George’s Cross of England, while others brought American and Israeli flags and wore the MAGA hats of U.S. President Donald Trump. They chanted slogans critical of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and carried placards including some saying “send them home”. Some attendees brought children.
‘WE BELIEVE IN TOMMY’
Robinson has billed the Unite the Kingdom march as a celebration of free speech. It is also expected to mourn Charlie Kirk, the American conservative activist shot dead on Wednesday.
“Hundreds of thousands already pack the streets of central London as we Unite as one for our freedoms,” Robinson said on X.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, describes himself as a journalist exposing state wrongdoing and counts U.S. billionaire Elon Musk among his supporters. Britain’s biggest anti-immigrant political party, Reform UK, which has topped opinion polls in recent months, has kept its distance from Robinson, who has several criminal convictions.
“We want our country back, we want our free speech back on track,” said Sandra Mitchell, a supporter attending the rally.
“They need to stop illegal migration into this country,” she said. “We believe in Tommy.”
London’s Metropolitan Police has said it will have more than 1,600 officers deployed across London on Saturday, including 500 brought in from other forces. In addition to policing the two demonstrations, the force is stretched by high-profile soccer matches and concerts
Quote:The British royal family is rolling out the red carpet for President Trump.
In July, Buckingham Palace announced that the 79-year-old and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, would pay a state visit to the U.K. from Sept. 17–19. King Charles III will host the couple at Windsor Castle.
Trump is the first U.S. president to be invited for two state visits by a British monarch. The late Queen Elizabeth II hosted him and Melania Trump in 2019 during his first administration.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of “My Mother and I,” told Fox News Digital that royal watchers can expect the full pomp and pageantry that the royal family is known for.
“This particular state visit is very significant,” she said. “Everyone is calling it the ‘soft power’ of the monarchy. King Charles can’t do anything remotely political or even say anything remotely political because that’s our constitution. He’s head of state, and he’s monarch, but he doesn’t get involved in politics. … But this event strengthens the relationship between both nations, and it’s one everyone is looking forward to.”
“The royal family is especially looking forward to this,” Seward insisted. “Trump is extremely flattering of the royal family. … The late queen was very amused by Trump, and she liked him. There is a good feeling all around before it has even started.”
According to the royal family’s website, foreign monarchs, presidents or prime ministers are invited to visit the king or queen on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Prince William and Kate Middleton will greet their American guests and accompany them to see Charles and Queen Camilla. As the king and queen formally welcome the president and first lady, a royal salute will be fired from the east lawn of Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. Then Trump and Melania will join Charles and Camilla, as well as William and Kate, in a carriage procession through the Windsor estate, toward the castle.
“They will go into lunch with as many of the royal family as the king can pull together, which will be most of the family,” said Seward.
After lunch, Trump will visit St. George’s Chapel in Windsor to lay a wreath on the queen’s tomb. There will also be a flypast by U.K. and U.S. F-35 military jets and the Red Arrows.
One of the many highlights of the state visit is the glamorous state banquet, which will take place Wednesday evening. Around 150 guests are usually invited based on their cultural, diplomatic or economic links to the country being hosted.
Quote:MADRID — Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the final stage of the Spanish Vuelta and forced organizers to cut the race short on Sunday.
There were clashes between police and protesters near the route finale in Madrid. Some protesters carrying anti-Israel banners partly blocked the road and forced riders to stop.
The podium ceremony was called off because of security concerns.
“Due to the protests in Madrid, the race ended earlier than planned and there will be no podium ceremony,” race officials said.
Organizers did not immediately officially announce the final results of the 21st stage and overall race. There were about 50 kilometers (31 miles) left on the last stage.
Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike was set to win the three-week race after extending his overall lead over João Almeida on Saturday. The Dane had a lead of 1 minute, 16 seconds over Almeida ahead of the mostly ceremonial ride into Madrid.
Police escort
The protesters threw barriers onto the road on a finishing circuit in the Spanish capital. Riders had been expected to do nine laps on the circuit.
Several hundred protesters stayed on the road where the race was supposed to pass by. Anti-Israel banners were also hung from nearby buildings.
The race had resumed briefly Sunday after riders were originally told by race organizers to stop because of the protests, but they eventually had to stop again as authorities and organizers discussed the situation.
ASIA
Quote:Nepal lifted a nationwide curfew on Saturday, the day after the swearing-in of interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki and the calming of mass protests that left more than 50 people dead.
Why It Matters
Tens of thousands of young people took to the streets of Nepal earlier this week to protest a government ban on social media. Police used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds outside government buildings, as protestors set fire to Parliament, and the police opened fire. Over 50 people have been killed according to the Associated Press.
Nepal, a Himalayan nation of about 30 million bordering China and India, has faced years of political upheaval. Protesters say the immediate trigger was the social media ban, but the deeper roots are long-standing government corruption and a lack of economic opportunities for young people who aren't "nepo kids," or children of political leaders.
The unrest also led to curfews and, subsequently, the resignation of Prime Minister Sharma Oli.
What To Know
The massive demonstrations started on Monday and have carried out through the week. On Friday, former Supreme Court Justice Karki, who is known for her anti-corruption stances, was sworn in as interim prime minister. She has the backing of the Gen Z protestors pushing for governmental change.
Karki previously served as the first woman chief justice of Nepal and now as the first woman head of the country.
On Saturday, her first day in the role, she visited injured protesters in Kathmandu and told them, "I will work with everything I have," according to the AP. Dozens of those who were killed died from police gunfire, while several inmates who were trying to break free from prison also died as well as three police officers, the AP reported.
A curfew took effect in major cities across Nepal on Tuesday, allowing residents only a few hours a day to leave their homes, and was lifted Saturday. During those limited hours, crowds rushed to grocery stores while some visited religious sites.
Protestors demanding change and calling out government corruption set fire to the Parliament on Tuesday despite the curfew in place. Some also attacked residences of various political leaders.
Widely used social networks, including Facebook, X and YouTube were blocked in the Himalayan nation last week after failing to comply with a new requirement to register and submit to government oversight. The ban was lifted on Tuesday.
Quote:Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, warned joint military exercises of US, South Korea and Japan could bring about “negative consequences” for themselves, state media reported on Sunday.
South Korea, Japan and the US will conduct annual defensive drills called the “Freedom Edge” starting on September 15 to upgrade aerial, naval and cyber operational capabilities against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, South Korea’s military has said.
“This reminds us that the reckless display of power displayed by the US, Japan, and South Korea in the wrong places, namely around the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, will undoubtedly bring about negative consequences for themselves,” Kim said via state KCNA news agency, using North Korea’s official name.
South Korea and the United States also plan to stage the “Iron Mace” tabletop exercises next week on integrating their conventional and nuclear capabilities against North Korea’s threats, South Korean local media reported.
If “hostile forces” continue to boast about their power through those joint drills, North Korea will take countermeasures “more clearly and strongly,” North Korea’s top party official Pak Jong Chon said in a separate dispatch via KCNA.
Pyongyang has traditionally criticized those joint drills as rehearsals for invasion and in some cases responded with weapons tests, but Seoul and Washington say they are purely defensive.
Quote:A Trump administration envoy met Taliban leaders in Kabul on Saturday to discuss improving relations and possible "investment opportunities" in Afghanistan, the group said.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and White House for comment via email on Saturday.
Why It Matters
The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021 after U.S. forces withdrew. This is their second time in power since previously ruling from 1996 to 2001.
In July, Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban's leadership. No other nation has followed, but talks with U.S. envoys mark a significant step toward reestablishing relations. The Taliban, known for hardline rule and morality policing, sharply restrict women's rights: girls are barred from secondary and higher education, most paid work and many public spaces.
The U.S. has a long history and deep involvement with Afghanistan, having militarily entered the country in 2001 after the September 11 terrorist attacks and withdrawing 20 years later. Earlier this summer, President Donald Trump issued an executive order fully restricting the entry of individuals from a dozen countries, including Afghanistan.
What To Know
Trump's special envoy for hostage response, Adam Boehler, and Zalmay Khalilzad, former US ambassador to Afghanistan, sat down with Taliban leaders in Afghanistan's capital on Saturday.
In a statement obtained by the Associated Press, the Taliban noted that its foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with the two Trump envoy members and had "comprehensive discussions." The diplomats spoke about "ways to develop bilateral relations between the two countries, issues related to citizens, and investment opportunities in Afghanistan."
The meeting comes months after the Taliban released George Glezmann, an American airline mechanic from Atlanta abducted more than two years ago in Afghanistan, in March. Glezmann was traveling as a tourist in the country when he was seized by the Taliban's intelligence services in December 2022. He was designated by the United States as wrongfully detained in 2023.
The official X account of Afghanistan's deputy prime minister for economic affairs office posted a video recapping the meeting on Saturday. "During the meeting, both sides discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, the region, and the world. And exchanged views on bilateral, political, and economic relations between Afghanistan and the United States," the video said.
The video also noted that Taliban officials emphasized the country's natural resources, including iron mines and oil fields, as well as infrastructure developments, as potential investment opportunities.
The U.S. and Taliban officials signed the Doha Agreement during Trump's first term, in 2020, which pledged a complete U.S. troop withdrawal.
Reuters and local outlets have reported that the leaders discussed prisoner exchanges between the two countries.
MIDDLE EAST
Quote:Israel obliterated another Gaza City high-rise it said was being used by Hamas Saturday morning, as thousands more Palestinians evacuated the city amid an escalation of airstrikes.
Saturday’s bombing came shortly after the Israeli Defense Forces dropped leaflets in Gaza City ordering Palestinians to flee for safety.
“The Israeli army is operating with very intense force in your area and is determined to dismantle and defeat Hamas,” it read, according to the Times of Israel.
“For your safety, evacuate immediately. …You have been warned.”
The IDF said the terror group had placed military infrastructure in the residential tower to attack its troops as the Jewish state prepares for its mid-September takeover of Gaza’s largest city. The strike marks at least the sixth Hamas-controlled high-rise that has been destroyed.
“The hurricane storm continues to strike Gaza,” Defence Minister Israel Katz posted on X, with a video showing the Gaza City high-rise topple in mere seconds, leaving behind a thick cloud of black smoke rising through the air.
Around 100,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City over the past month, according to the UN.
An estimated one million Palestinians were thought to be living there.
The plan to seize control of the city has faced resistance, both internationally and within Israel, over concerns for Gaza’s civilian population and the lives of the remaining hostages.
Quote:Mega film studio Paramount has denounced a pledge this week by more than 4,000 actors and filmmakers, including some Hollywood A-listers, to boycott the Israeli film industry — accusing it of being complicit in “genocide and apartheid” against Palestinians.
Paramount is the first of the major movie studios to condemn the pledge, according to Deadline.
The controversial pledge was issued in an open letter signed by some top-tier actors Olivia Colman, Lily Gladstone, Emma Stone, Peter Sarsgaard, and Elliot Page, as well as director Ava DuVernay.
The letter called for the boycott, claiming Israel’s film studios are implicated in the destruction of the Palestinian people.
“Inspired by Filmmakers United Against Apartheid,” founded in 1987 by Martin Scorsese and the late Jonathan Demme, “who refused to screen their films in apartheid South Africa, we pledge not to screen films, appear at or otherwise work with Israeli film institutions — including festivals, cinemas, broadcasters and production companies — that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people,” it read.
In response, Paramount blasted Workers for Palestine for “silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality” as Israel’s war with Hamas rages on, the outlet reported.
“At Paramount, we believe in the power of storytelling to connect and inspire people, promote mutual understanding and preserve the moments, ideas and events that shape the world we share. This is our creative mission,” the company said in statement to Deadline.
“We do not agree with recent efforts to boycott Israeli filmmakers,” the statement continued. “The global entertainment industry should be encouraging artists to tell their stories and share their ideas with audiences throughout the world.
“We need more engagement and communication — not less.”
The Israeli Film and TV Producers Association issued their own response to the pledge, claiming “The signatories of this petition are targeting the wrong people.”
Quote:US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Israel Sunday to ease tensions and demand answers over the IDF’s strike on Hamas’ leadership in Qatar, which upended diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza.
Rubio has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to relay America’s commitment as an ally to the Jewish state, all while demanding more transparency over the war effort after the IDF greenlit an airstrike in Doha last week, bombing the capital of a key US ally in the region.
“We’re going to talk about what the future holds, and I’m going to get a much better understanding of what their plans are moving forward,” Rubio told reporters.
“Obviously we’re not happy about it,” he added, referencing the strike in Qatar. “The president was not happy about it. Now we need to move forward and figure out what comes next.”
Rubio, who visited Israel’s Western Wall with Netanyahu, said the Trump administration wants Jerusalem to lay out a plan to finally put an end to the war, which is approaching its third year.
President Trump “wants Hamas defeated, he wants the war to end, he wants all 48 hostages home, including those that are deceased, and he wants it all at once,” Rubio said.
“And we’ll have to discuss about how the events last week had an impact on the ability to achieve that in short order,” the secretary of state added.
While Rubio’s tone was stern, Netanyahu celebrated his arrival as proof that US-Israeli ties have “never been stronger” at a time when the Jewish state faces near global condemnation over the war in Gaza and attack in Doha.
“[It’s] a testament to the durability, the strength of the Israeli-American alliance,” Netanyahu said of Rubio’s visit as they toured Jerusalem. “It’s as strong and as durable as the stones of the Western Wall we just touched.”
The trip comes just days after Rubio and Trump met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to mediate and assure the leader that such a strike would never happen again.
Al Thani had previously accused Israel of “killing” the peace talks that Qatar was mediating. The sheikh later confirmed that his country would still serve as mediators for the Gaza war, but warned that retaliation was coming for Israel.
Rubio’s visit to Israel also serves as much needed international support for Netanyahu as the United Nations’ General Assembly is set to convene this month to discuss the war, with France, Britain and other nations set to recognize a Palestinian state.
USA & CANADA
Quote:President Donald Trump has taken the credit for a drop in crime rates in Memphis, Tennessee, claiming recent federal actions under his direction are responsible for the city's progress.
He wrote on Truth Social on Sunday: "The only reason crime is somewhat down in Memphis is because the FBI, and others in the Federal Government, at my direction, have been working there for 5 months... But the real work by us has barely begun. That happens after we make the official announcement that WE'RE COMING... ONLY I CAN SAVE THEM!!!"
Why It Matters
Since Trump's Friday announcement that he would deploy the National Guard to Memphis, as part of a broader national crime crackdown, critics have pointed out that, while the city has one of the worst crime rates in the country, it is currently lower than it has been in recent years.
The president's post is claiming responsibility for this to justify the move for further federal action.
What To Know
In 2024, Memphis recorded about 2,500 violent crimes per 100,000 residents—the highest rate in Tennessee and among the worst in the country, according to FBI data.
That level of violence was more than three times the national average and higher than other high-crime cities, including St. Louis, Detroit, and Baltimore.
But the 2024 crime rate marked an 11 percent decrease—below what it was in 2023 and 2022, according to data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
When Trump announced the National Guard deployment on Fox News, he claimed Memphis Mayor Paul Young supported the decision.
But Young has denied this, saying that it was an "overstatement." He said he does "not think it's the way to drive down crime," but added that he would "work strategically to ensure that this happens in a way that truly benefits and strengthens our community."
In June, Trump deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles following violent protests, then to Washington, D.C. in August after alleging the city had fallen into "lawlessness."
He has also expressed an interest in deploying National Guard troops to other major cities including Baltimore, New Orleans and Chicago.
While advocates say support from the National Guard frees federal agents to focus on core enforcement tasks, critics and some legal experts warn about using military forces in domestic policing roles and the risk of politicizing state military forces.
Quote:resident Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the controversial new White House ballroom, currently under construction, will be significantly larger than originally planned, with a capacity of 900 people—nearly 40 percent more than the initial 650-person design.
The expansion comes as construction has just begun on the $200 million project, which Trump discussed in a telephone interview with NBC News while heavy machinery and trucks were visible at the construction site.
Why It Matters
The ballroom represents the biggest change to the White House exterior since the East Wing was expanded under Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942, marking a historic alteration to America's most iconic residence.
As a legacy project intended to serve future administrations, the ballroom will fundamentally change how the White House hosts large diplomatic events and state functions, eliminating the need for temporary tents on the South Lawn that Trump has criticized as undignified for hosting foreign leaders and dignitaries.
What To Know
The 90,000-square-foot ballroom is being constructed at the East Wing location, which has traditionally served as office space for the first lady and her staff.
These offices will be temporarily relocated during construction, with the East Wing set to be modernized and renovated as part of the project. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that "nothing will be torn down" during the construction process.
When asked by reporters how he was "holding up" after the murder of his friend and ally Charlie Kirk just days prior, Trump replied, "I think very good, and by the way, right there, you see all the trucks? They've just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House, which is something they've been trying to get, as you know, for about 150 years."
The former real estate developer has taken personal interest in the project's details, selecting McCrery Architects as lead architect, Clark Construction for building, and AECOM for engineering, according to a White House statement.
The expanded capacity from 650 to 900 people addresses Trump's long-standing complaint about the White House's limited event space. Currently, the East Room—the mansion's largest room—accommodates only about 200 people. Trump emphasized the ballroom's separation from the historic mansion itself, stating it will be "near it but not touching it" and will pay "total respect to the existing building."
Quote:The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a proposed $3.1 million civil penalty against Boeing due to multiple safety and quality-system violations including an incident in January 2024 where a door plug panel on a flight got loose on its fuselage during midflight.
In a press release issued on Friday, the FAA said it found "hundreds of quality system violations" at Boeing's 737 factory in Washington state and at the Kansas Boeing subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems' 737 factory.
"We regret the January 2024 door-plug accident and continue to work on strengthening our safety culture and improving first-time quality and accountability across our operations," a Boeing spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Newsweek on Saturday.
The FAA referred Newsweek to the agency's statement when reached for comment by email on Saturday.
Why It Matters
The proposed penalty covers violations between September 2023 and February 2024 and follows a 17-month National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation that attributed the incident to manufacturing and oversight failures by Boeing and shortcomings in FAA inspections and audits.
The FAA's proposed fine also escalates federal scrutiny of Boeing's production and safety practices at a time when the company is still dealing with multiple other high-profile incidents, including the 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019.
The FAA's action signals continuing federal intervention in aircraft production oversight and could influence certification, production rates and U.S. supply-chain reviews for Boeing-built planes.
What To Know
The penalty of $3,139,319 comes amid several incidents involving Boeing aircrafts that led to hundreds of deaths.
On January 5, 2024, a paneled-over exit door, known as a door plug, blew out of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon. While no one was injured, passengers described a horrifying situation in the cabin as people experienced intense air pressure.
That incident came after two separate Boeing 737 MAX crashes that killed a total of 346 people between 2018 and 2019.
The NTSB said its 17-month investigation identified shortcomings in Boeing's manufacturing processes and safety oversight, and found FAA inspections and audits were ineffective in preventing the condition that led to the door plug's blowout.
The FAA's press release also alleges an instance in which a non-Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) Boeing employee pressured a member of the company's ODA unit to approve a 737 MAX for delivery despite known noncompliance with applicable standards—an allegation the FAA cited as evidence of interference with the independence of delegated safety officials.
Lawmakers and safety advocates have previously pushed for tougher oversight of Boeing following the 737 Max crashes and more recent production-quality revelations.
Quote:Five U.S. F-35 advanced stealth jets landed in Puerto Rico on Saturday, according to a new report.
Why It Matters
The U.S.' relationship with Venezuela, long a turbulent one, has worsened in recent weeks as the U.S. builds up its military forces close to the country. Washington and Caracas do not have formal diplomatic relations, and there is no appearance of a personal rapport between U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuela's leader, Nicolás Maduro.
What To Know
Five of the fifth-generation aircraft landed at the eastern Puerto Rican air base of Roosevelt Roads after U.S. helicopters and other aircraft were spotted on the territory, according to Reuters.
The news agency first reported earlier this month the Trump administration would send 10 stealth fighters to Puerto Rico, after the U.S. carried out a missile strike on a boat the Republican said was carrying drugs and operated by the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua cartel. Trump said the strike in early September killed 11 "narco-terrorists," but Venezuela's Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, said "none were drug traffickers."
"We have no force posture changes to announce currently," a Pentagon spokesperson told Reuters. A Pentagon spokesperson referred a Newsweek query to the White House.
The 10 F-35s are reportedly expected to carry out operations against drug cartels in the region. Trump has designated groups like Tren de Aragua as terrorist organizations and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously said the U.S. could "blow up" international crime syndicates.
Fifth-generation stealth fighter jets are the most advanced type currently in operation. Nineteen countries plus the U.S. have signed up to receive, or already use, F-35s.
Pete Hegseth, whose former title of defense secretary was recently rebranded to secretary of war, visited Puerto Rico earlier this month alongside the U.S.'s top general, Dan Caine.
Venezuela's Foreign Minister, Yván Gil, said on Saturday that American personnel from a U.S. Navy destroyer had boarded a Venezuelan fishing boat in the South American nation's waters on Friday. U.S. personnel remained on the fishing vessel for eight hours in a "direct provocation," Gil said, adding that the Venezuelan government "demands the United States immediately halts these actions that risk security and peace in the Caribbean."
Quote:Agroup calling itself the New California movement is pushing for a dramatic reimagining of America's most populous state: splitting it into two.
Led by Paul Preston, a talk radio host on One Radio Network and president of the movement, supporters say California has been taken over by a "totalitarian one-party system" and argue that the only solution is to carve out a 51st state.
"We're not secessionists—we're not trying to secede from the Union," Preston told Newsweek. "We're making a new state, growing the Union of states, so that we will become the 51st state of the Union."
Newsweek has contacted Governor Gavin Newsom's office for comment via email.
A Breakaway Vision
Preston said the group formally declared independence in 2018, citing frustration with what he described as decades of Democratic control. "We're doing this because we think that we have a totalitarian government in California today, and have had for quite some time. That's why a large group of people got together and declared independence back in 2018," he said.
Since then, he added, supporters have staged weekly demonstrations to press their case: "We've read 190 grievances into the public record on the Public Square, over 190 weeks' worth of reading, every Tuesday at Superior Court buildings around the state in all 58 counties. Pleading our case and discussing what is the totalitarian nature, and why we feel we are living in tyranny."
A Longshot Bid
But the idea is almost certain to fail. Every citizen-led effort to split or secede from a U.S. state has collapsed in modern history. Texas has repeatedly debated breaking into multiple states. And Puerto Rico has held referendums on becoming the 51st state. In California, "Calexit" pushed a 2018 ballot initiative for independence. None has advanced.
The precedent New California cites is West Virginia, which broke away from Confederate Virginia during the Civil War and gained statehood in 1863. But that occurred in the midst of armed conflict and with the approval of Congress—something that would also be required for New California, making the path forward nearly impossible.
Still, Preston insists momentum is on their side. "California is run by the Democratic Party, in a very large way by supermajorities in the legislature," he said. "But the facts are, California is not a deep blue state."
Claims of Tyranny
Preston argues that California has been transformed into a "tyranny" run by Democrats, pointing to the party's supermajorities in the state legislature and its dominance in congressional seats.
California is one of the most reliably Democratic states in the country. Democrats hold every statewide office, command supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature, and control the overwhelming majority of the state's 52 congressional seats. In presidential politics, California has been a Democratic stronghold since 1992, consistently delivering lopsided margins—most recently giving Joe Biden nearly 63 percent of the vote in 2020.
Yet beneath that dominance, signs of movement have emerged. In 2024, California—along with New York—registered the largest rightward shift of any state, swinging 12 points toward Republicans compared with 2020. While Democrats still carried the state comfortably, the shift underscored growing pockets of discontent.
Nonetheless, Preston said, "California is a single one-party state."
"It's the equivalent of North Korea, Communist China, Cuba, Venezuela—California joins those ranks." California holds free and competitive elections at every level of government, and Republicans continue to win local offices and represent several congressional districts, particularly in the Central Valley and Orange County.
Quote:A Michigan man has been arrested and charged in the U.S. with attempted kidnapping of a minor and is facing multiple criminal charges in Canada.
Shahzad Hameedi, 46, of Royal Oak, Michigan is facing charges of aggravated sexual assault and sexual interference, after he allegedly sexually assaulted a four-year-old boy, Windsor, Ontario Police Staff Sergeant David Tennent, said during a press conference Friday.
"I don't remember laying charges like this against an individual for something like this. This is very, very serious," the sergeant explained.
The case—described by U.S. prosecutors and Windsor police as an alleged cross‑border plot that included a violent home invasion and evidence of a planned abduction—has prompted investigators to warn there may be additional victims across Canada and several U.S. states.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan by email during non-working hours Saturday for more information on court appearances and legal representation for Hameedi.
The charges have not been proven in court, and all defendants are innocent until proven guilty.
Why it Matters
Law enforcement agencies characterize the alleged plan as a violent, cross‑border threat to children and families and say the suspect used multiple identities that may have enabled him to target victims in different jurisdictions.
The allegations raise public safety concerns, and investigative challenges for police in Ontario and U.S. jurisdictions, and could lead to prosecutions in both countries.
What To Know
Investigators say the probe began in June 2025 after a Windsor mother reported injuries on her son following unsupervised contact with Hameedi, whom she had met on a dating app earlier in 2025.
Medical examiners determined the child's injuries were consistent with sexual assault, Tennent said.
Windsor investigators and U.S. authorities later linked a masked night‑time home invasion and assault on the boy's mother to Hameedi.
LATIN AMERICA
Quote:CARACAS, Venezuela — Personnel from a US warship boarded a Venezuelan tuna boat with nine fishermen while it was sailing in Venezuelan waters, Venezuela’s foreign minister said on Saturday, underlining strained relations with the United States.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tensions between the two nations escalated after President Donald Trump in August ordered the deployment of warships in the Caribbean, off the coast of the South American country, citing the fight against Latin American drug cartels.
While reading a statement on Saturday, Foreign Minister Yván Gil told journalists the Venezuelan tuna boat was “illegally and hostilely boarded by a United States Navy destroyer” and 18 armed personnel who remained on the vessel for eight hours, preventing communication and the fishermen’s normal activities. They were then released under escort by the Venezuelan navy.
The fishing boat had authorization from the Ministry of Fisheries to carry out its work, Gil said at a press conference, during which he presented a video of the incident.
“Those who give the order to carry out such provocations are seeking an incident that would justify a military escalation in the Caribbean,” Gil said, adding that the objective is to “persist in their failed policy” of regime change in Venezuela.
Gil said the incident was “illegal” and “illegitimate” and warned that Venezuela will defend its sovereignty against any “provocation.”
The Venezuelan foreign minister’s complaint comes days after Trump said that his country had attacked a drug-laden vessel and killed 11 people on board. Trump said the vessel had departed from Venezuela and was carrying members of the Tren de Aragua gang, but his administration has not presented any evidence to support that claim.
Venezuela accused the United States of committing extrajudicial killings. The South American country’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, said Washington’s version is “a tremendous lie” and suggested that, according to Venezuelan government investigations, the incident could be linked to the disappearance of some individuals in a coastal region of the country who had no ties to drug trafficking.
The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a cartel to flood the US with drugs, and doubled the reward for his capture from $25 million to $50 million.
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9
Maranatha!
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My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
Maranatha!
The Internet might be either your friend or enemy. It just depends on whether or not she has a bad hair day.
My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
