News of the World

[kyonides]

USA

Michigan Man Arrested and Charged with Attempting to Attack Military Base on Behalf of ISIS

A Melvindale man – and former member of the Michigan Army National Guard – was arrested today after he attempted to carry out a plan to conduct a mass-shooting at a U.S. military base in Warren, Michigan, on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization.

Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, is charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information related to a destructive device.

“This defendant is charged with planning a deadly attack on a U.S. military base here at home for ISIS,” said Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement, we foiled the attack before lives were lost. We will not hesitate to bring the full force of the Department to find and prosecute those who seek to harm our men and women in the military and to protect all Americans.”

“ISIS is a brutal terrorist organization which seeks to kill Americans. Helping ISIS or any other terrorist organization prepare or carry out acts of violence is not only a reprehensible crime – it is a threat to our entire nation and way of life,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Our office will not tolerate such crimes or threats, and we will use the full weight of the law against anyone who engages in terrorism.”

“The defendant allegedly tried to carry out an attack on a military facility in support of ISIS, which was disrupted thanks to the good work of the FBI and our partners,” said Assistant Director Donald M. Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “The FBI is steadfast in our commitment to detect and stop terrorist plans aimed at the American homeland or at U.S. interests overseas.”

“The arrest of this former soldier is a sobering reminder of the importance of our counterintelligence efforts to identify and disrupt those who would seek to harm our nation,” said Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command. “I commend the tireless work of our special agents and FBI partners who worked together to investigate and apprehend this individual. We will continue to collaborate with our partners to prevent similar incidents in the future. We urge all soldiers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to their chain of command, as the safety and security of our Army and our nation depends on our collective efforts to prevent insider threats.”

According to the complaint, Said informed two undercover law enforcement officers of a plan he had devised and formulated to conduct a mass-shooting at the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) facility at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan. In April 2025, the two undercover officers indicated they intended to carry out Said’s plan at the direction of ISIS. In response, Said provided material assistance to the attack plan, including providing armor-piercing ammunition and magazines for the attack, flying his drone over TACOM to conduct operational reconnaissance, training the undercover employees on firearms and the construction of Molotov cocktails for use during the attack, and planning numerous details of the attack including how to enter TACOM and which building to target.

Supreme Court Unanimously Rules to Reopen Texas Civil Rights Lawsuit

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reinstated a civil rights lawsuit against Texas police officer Roberto Felix Jr., who fatally shot Ashtian Barnes during a 2016 traffic stop in Houston. The Court's decision emphasized that excessive force claims should be evaluated based on the "totality of the circumstances," rather than solely focusing on the moment an officer perceives a threat.

Barnes, a 24-year-old Black man, was driving a rental car when Felix pulled him over due to unpaid tolls associated with the vehicle. Unaware of the toll violations, Barnes was attempting to retrieve documentation when the car began to move forward. Felix, who had positioned himself on the car's door sill, fired two shots, resulting in Barnes' death.

Lower courts had previously dismissed the lawsuit filed by Barnes' mother, Janice Hughes, applying a "moment-of-threat" doctrine that considered only the immediate threat perceived by the officer. However, Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the Supreme Court, stated that courts must assess the entire context of such incidents, a standard that could favor plaintiffs in similar civil rights cases.

The case now returns to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for reconsideration, where the broader standard mandated by the Supreme Court will be applied.

This ruling may influence how excessive force claims are evaluated in future cases, potentially affecting the accountability of law enforcement officers nationwide.

Judge Cites Trump Supreme Court Immunity Ruling in Bid to Dismiss ICE Case

AWisconsin judge accused of helping a man in the country illegally evade immigration agents pleaded not guilty Thursday morning, after citing the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in President Donald Trump's election interference case, arguing she is protected by judicial immunity.

In a motion filed Wednesday, attorneys for Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan argue that her conduct—directing movement around her courtroom—was an official judicial act shielded from prosecution.

The defense leans heavily on the Trump decision, which established that public officials are immune from prosecution for actions within their exclusive constitutional authority and are presumptively immune for all official acts.

"The problems with the prosecution are legion," the motion states, "but most immediately, the government cannot prosecute Judge Dugan because she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts."

Why It Matters

Dugan faces federal charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, stemming from an April incident in which she allegedly helped a defendant leave her courtroom through a back door to avoid U.S. immigration authorities. The Trump administration argues she impeded federal agents.

What To Know

Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse ahead of Thursday's hearing, with some holding signs that read, "Only Fascists Arrest Judges -- Drop the Charges," "Department of Justice Over-Reach" and "Keep Your Hands Off Our Judges!!"

The crowd chanted "Due process rights," "Hands off our freedom," and "Si se puede" — Spanish for "Yes, we can" — which is a rallying cry for immigrant rights advocates.

Honestly, this is the first time I've ever heard about that judicial immunity doctrine. Where does it even come from? Shear desperation? Hiding illegal immigrants in a judge's home?

LATIN AMERICA

Panama Asks Trump to Clean Up Mess Left From Biden-Era Migration Surge

In the Darién Gap, a once-pristine stretch of rainforest connecting South and Central America, the legacy of mass migration has left behind a trail of plastic trash, sewage and human suffering.

Over a million migrants trekked through this perilous route between 2021 and 2024, most bound for the U.S. border. Panama's Environment Minister, Juan Carlos Navarro, calls it one of the worst social and environmental disasters in the country's history—and is now placing the blame squarely on the United States.

"The massive migration through the Panamanian Isthmus was a perfect social, human, and environmental disaster," Navarro, a longtime environmental advocate and former mayor of Panama City, said in an exclusive interview with Newsweek.

"It became a major criminal enterprise for drug cartels like Colombia's Gulf Cartel and Venezuela's Tren de Aragua. Migrants were assaulted, abused, and used as human bait."

Ahead of the Global Climate Week and Nature Summit in Panama City, taking place from May 19 to 22, Navarro is calling on the Trump administration to help clean up the Darién Gap and parts of the country's rainforest that were heavily damaged by mass migration during Joe Biden's presidency.

"Everyone knew it, and the world looked the other way. It's one of the greatest human tragedies of our century. Our government spent over $120 million annually, without any foreign help, to aid these victims so they could continue to the U.S.—while the previous U.S. administration stood by with their open borders policy."

"When the world's greatest power promotes chaos, everything falls apart."

Did the US promote chaos in the recent past? Yes, it did. Under the Biden administration it was very chaotic indeed.

What's curious about this sudden reaction is that they NEVER complained about those issues while Biden, meaning Kamala, Jill Biden and a bunch of other people, was in power. Panama now feels free to demand reparations from the US because it's no longer getting much of the benefits of letting all kinds of traffickers do business in the region.  

EUROPE

E5 Defence Ministers' Meeting

Rome to Host the Fourth “E5” Meeting of Defence Ministers on 16 May 2025

The meeting, which will bring together representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom, will take place at Palazzo dell’Aeronautica.

The “E5” Defence Ministers’ summit is an informal cooperation format established in response to current geopolitical challenges, aimed at strengthening political and military dialogue, particularly in the field of European security and defence. Special focus will be placed on support for Ukraine and the enhancement of European defence capabilities. The initiative marks a significant step towards greater strategic autonomy for Europe in managing its own security issues, while maintaining strong ties with NATO and the European Union.

The 16 May meeting will focus on key strategic issues, current security challenges, and prospects for strengthening European defence.

Coordinated support for Ukraine will also be among the main topics discussed, at a crucial moment for the stability of the continent.

The Rome meeting follows previous “E5” sessions held in Berlin (25 November 2024), Warsaw (13 January 2025), and Paris (12 March 2025), confirming the five nations’ shared commitment to intensifying dialogue and cooperation in the defence domain.

EU agrees new sanctions on Russia and threatens more if Putin refuses ceasefire

The new package of EU sanctions comes one day before a direct round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey.

The European Union has agreed to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia, threatening to slap on another one if the country continues to refuse the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by the White House and the "Coalition of the Willing".

The big push comes as Volodymyr Zelenskyy challenges Vladimir Putin to sit down for direct peace talks in Turkey, a format endorsed by Donald Trump. So far, the Kremlin has not confirmed whether the Russian president will actually travel to Istanbul.

"I believe that if Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war," Zelenskyy said.

The preliminary deal on the new sanctions, the 17th package since February 2022, was sealed on Wednesday morning during a meeting of EU ambassadors and is expected to be formally approved by foreign affairs ministers next week.

Hungary, a vocal critic of economic restrictions, which has twice this year almost blocked their renewal, did not oppose the measures. The behind-the-scenes discussions among member states proceeded without any major controversy, diplomats noted, a possible sign of the limited scope of the proposal.

"This war has to end. We will keep the pressure high," said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.

Once again, the prime target of the sanctions is the "shadow fleet" that the Kremlin has deployed to circumvent Western restrictions on the oil trade and maintain a source of revenue that is crucial to fund the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The fleet consists of old-age, uninsured ships suspected of deceptive practices, including transmitting falsified data, turning off their transponders to become invisible and conducting multiple ship-to-ship transfers to conceal the origin of their barrels. The vessels are also under scrutiny for engaging in sabotage against critical infrastructure.

So far, the bloc has targeted 153 tankers from the "shadow fleet", all of which have been denied access to EU ports and services.

The new sanctions add 189 vessels, bringing the total number to just over 350.

Germany to comply with Trump's 5% defence spending target, foreign minister suggests

US President Donald Trump has long demanded that NATO partners spend more on defence. Germany now wants to comply.

Germany has suggested that it could boost defence spending to 5% of GDP, putting the country in line with US President Donald Trump's demands.

Trump has long urged NATO partners to increase their military expenditure. Initially, he wanted to see each country spend 2% of GDP on defence, but the figure late rose to 5%.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul spoke about the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Turkey, where talks between Russia and Ukraine are due to take place.

Wadephul said for the first time that Germany would follow the US President's plea to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP.

“We are following him there," Wadephul said.

Why the change of heart?

Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, of the Social Democrats (SPD), distanced himself from Trump's higher demand, explaining this year that “5% would be over €200 billion per year”.

The federal budget “does not even amount to €500 billion”, Scholz said in Bielefeld in January.

“That would only be possible with massive tax increases or massive cuts to many things that are important to us,” he added.

Meanwhile, the new Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during the election campaign that GDP percentages were “not expedient”.

At an event in early January, he explained that “whether it's 2, 2.5 or 5%, to be honest, that's only of secondary importance to me".

'The strongest army in Europe'

For Merz, it is crucial that Germany invests more in its army, which is known as the Bundeswehr.

In his first government statement on Wednesday, Merz said it would become the “conventionally strongest army in Europe”.

The Bundeswehr currently lacks personnel. Nevertheless, there will be no compulsory military service for the time being, confirmed SPD Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

Military service will continue to be based on voluntary service, inspired by the Swedish model.

Russia Mocks Zelensky Over Putin No-Show: 'Pathetic Loser'

Russian officials mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after Russian President Vladimir Putin ignored his demand of a face-to-face meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, where the first direct Russia-Ukraine talks in more than three years are due to take place.

Zelensky traveled to Ankara, Turkey, for a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and to decide on how the talks with Russia should unfold in Putin's absence. Putin sent a low-level Russian delegation.

Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, called Zelensky a "pathetic man" for demanding that Putin come to Turkey, the state news agency TASS reported.

Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, also called Zelensky a "clown" and a "loser" in her daily press briefing.

Ukraine: No Serious Conversation, Only Insults

Ukraine had framed Zelensky's demand for a face-to-face meeting with Putin as a test of Russia's true willingness to negotiate peace. Arriving in Turkey, he slammed the Russian delegation as "theatrical" and contrasted it to Ukraine's high-level group.

"Instead of Putin coming to meet with President @ZelenskyyUa in Türkiye and have a serious conversation about ending the war and restoring peace, what we hear from Russia are personal insults of the Ukrainian President," Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Not the first time the Russian foreign ministry becomes a laughing stock. It is also worth noting that the delegation in Türkiye is not led by the Russian foreign ministry—their role is to bark from Moscow," he added.

Zelensky Says Russia-Ukraine Talks Can Go Ahead

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave the green light for direct talks with Russia to go ahead in Istanbul, despite his frustration with the low level of the Moscow delegation sent by President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky said only some of his delegation would head into the negotiations, and the group would be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. He said the timings and length of the talks were still to be worked out.

The talks would involve Ukraine, Russia, the U.S., and Turkey, he said.

The Ukrainian delegation's goal is "to attempt at least the first steps toward de-escalation, the first steps toward ending the war, namely, a ceasefire," Zelensky said, and they will be in Istanbul on Thursday and Friday.

"We did everything in our power. Everyone is waiting for the Russian side," the Ukrainian president said.

Zelensky accused the Russian side of not taking the talks seriously, and that he did not see decision-makers among their delegation, despite direct negotiations taking place at the urging of Moscow.

He had earlier described the Russian delegation as "theatrical."

Russia 'Ready for Compromises'

Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation and an aide to Putin, said his team is "ready for possible compromises" and to resume talks, state news agency TASS reported. "We have a working attitude," Medinsky said.

He later gave a statement at the Russian consulate in Istanbul after Zelensky had finished speaking, saying that the delegation was tasked with establishing long-term peace and eliminating the causes of the conflict, state news agency RIA reported.

Medinsky said the delegation is determined to find solutions and views the Istanbul talks as a continuation of the peace process that ended in 2022. He said the delegation has the necessary authority to conduct the negotiations.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, said Putin had set objectives and defined the negotiating position of his delegation, per RIA. Peskov said Russia is willing to make the negotiations productive.

MIDDLE EAST

American-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander Released by Hamas

Hamas says it released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander Monday afternoon. An Israeli official confirmed the release and said he was now with the Red Cross in a statement shared with Newsweek.
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The release comes just ahead of President Donald Trump's planned tour of the Middle East, the first overseas trip of his presidency.

The move could signal progress in U.S. efforts to revive a stalled Gaza deal following the collapse of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire in March, which had halted hostage releases—including an earlier, unfulfilled, Hamas pledge to free the dual national.

What To Know

"Al-Qassam Brigades decided to release the Zionist soldier who holds the American nationality on Monday, May 12, 2025," military wing spokesperson Abu Obeida said in a short statement via Telegram.

Trump and Hamas confirmed on Sunday that they had reached an agreement on Alexander. Hamas said in a statement that the move was part of efforts towards establishing a ceasefire and opening Israeli border crossings for humanitarian aid to enter.

Now 21 years old, Alexander was raised in New Jersey. After graduating high school, he moved to Israel in 2022 and enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He was taken by Hamas from an Israeli military base during the October 7, 2023 attack in which about 250 people were abducted and 1,200 were killed, according to Israeli authorities.

Houthis Send Warning on Trump Middle East Visit

The Yemeni Houthi fighters have warned Arab states to be wary of any agreements with U.S. President Donald Trump as he visits the Middle East—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar—saying the United States has a consistent pattern of discarding its allies when circumstances change.
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The comments come days after an announcement halting the U.S. military campaign in Yemen and suspending Houthi attacks on American vessels. The Iran-backed Houthis have shown growing defiance despite more than nine weeks of airstrikes aimed at deterring attacks in the Red Sea and on Israel.

What To Know

The Houthis urged the rulers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar to stand by the Palestinian cause and Arab people. "Abandon the wars against your own kin," Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the Houthi-aligned Supreme Political Council wrote on X, formerly Twitter, ahead of Trump's visit.

"As the martyred leader once foresaw and said: 'America, which abandoned the Shah, will abandon Israel, its clients, and its allies,'" he added, referring to the founder of the Houthi movement.

The group, which has survived years of sustained bombardment by both Saudi and Emirati forces, previously warned Gulf countries of engaging in military campaigns alongside the U.S. or in defense of Israel.

The U.S. military—having begun strikes on Houthi strongholds in Yemen in mid-March—planned to escalate its campaign with a series of targeted assassinations. The campaign, modeled on a recent Israeli operation against Hezbollah and with alleged backing from Saudi Arabia, was met with resistance from the UAE, according to The New York Times.

Trump pledges to lift Syria sanctions as he seals $142bn arms deal on Saudi visit

President Donald Trump has said the US has "no stronger partner" than Saudi Arabia during his first major foreign trip - a whirlwind visit of Gulf countries mainly focused on shoring up investment.

Speaking in Riyadh, the US president also pledged to lift all sanctions against Syria, saying it was now time for the country to move forward with "a chance at greatness".

Day one of the tour saw the US and Saudi Arabia announce a $142bn (£107bn) arms deal, as well as other investments that the country's crown prince said could eventually be worth $1tn.

Trump also made Saudi Arabia the first foreign stop during his first term, in 2017. The rest of his trip will include stops in Qatar and the UAE.

Trump's arrival in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday was met with a grand reception, including a lavish lavender-coloured carpet rolled out to greet him. He had even chosen a purple tie to match it.

Riyadh swapped red carpets for lavender in 2021, saying that it was a symbol of the kingdom's desert wildflowers and generosity.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Trump on the tarmac and provided an honour guard of Arabian horses to accompany his presidential limo.

In his remarks at an investment forum, Trump lauded the US-Saudi relationship as "more powerful than ever before".

"From the moment we started we've seen wealth that has poured - and is pouring - into America," he said.

Trump is trying to woo foreign investors to the US to boost the American economy, a key focus of his administration in the nearly four months of his second term.

"I like him too much," Trump said of Saudi Arabia's crown prince and de-facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman. "That's why we give so much."

Trump expected to meet Syrian leader after announcing he will lift sanctions

US President Donald Trump has said he will lift sanctions on Syria, ahead of an expected meeting with its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Trump has agreed to "say hello" to Syria's interim president on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia as part of his tour of the Middle East, the White House said.

The announcement of the lifting of sanctions was met with elation in the Syrian capital of Damascus, where cheering, dancing and celebratory gunfire were heard.

The sanctions had previously blocked any foreign financing, including aid, from reaching Syria and were originally intended to put pressure on the dictatorship of now-ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Trump said the policy change would give Syria "a chance at greatness", telling an investment forum in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, "it's their time to shine."

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani celebrated the decision as a "pivotal turning point for the country" in an interview with the country's state news agency, Sana.

The country looks forward to a future of "stability, self-sufficiency and genuine reconstruction after years of a destructive war", he added.

Ninety percent of Syria's population were left under the poverty line at the end of Assad's regime and its new government has been pushing for an end to sanctions since Assad was overthrown in December.

Al-Sharaa told the BBC in an interview late last year that Syria was not a threat to the world and called for sanctions to be lifted.

He also called for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group who overthrew Assad, to be de-listed as a terrorist organisation. It is designated as one by the UN, US, EU and UK, among many others, as it started as a splinter group of al-Qaeda, which it broke away from in 2016.

Al-Sharaa repeated these calls at a joint press conference with France's President Emmanuel Macron last week, saying "these sanctions were imposed on the previous regime because of the crimes it committed, and this regime is gone."

Qatar Speaks Out on Giving Plane to Trump

Atop Qatari official described the offer of a plane to President Donald Trump as a "government-to-government transaction" and not a personal gift as the US president visited the country in a high-profile Middle East tour.
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Trump sparked ethical and legal criticism after considering whether to accept the offer of the Boeing 747-8 to serve as Air Force One. Qatar's proposal also adds a new twist to a $3.9 billion saga that began in 2018, when Boeing fell behind schedule on an agreed delivery of two new custom 747-8s—frustrating Trump.

What To Know

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani told CNN's Becky Anderson there was no reason for uproar over the plane.

The plane is estimated to be worth $400 million and the offer has drawn debate over whether it amounts to foreign influence, possibly violating constitutional restrictions on gifts to sitting presidents.

The Qatari official dismissed accusations of buying influence, saying Qatar has been a reliable partner for the U.S. when needed, including in its war against terror, the evacuation in Afghanistan and releasing hostages from different countries in the world.

Trump stated that the Boeing 747-8 would serve as the official presidential aircraft and, according to multiple reports, would be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation after he leaves office.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been selected as Trump's destinations for his first overseas trip since his presidential re-election with huge investments pledged from his Gulf partners.

During the visit, Qatar signed a $200 billion deal to purchase 160 jets from Boeing.

Donald Trump Says Iran 'Sort of' Agreed Nuclear Deal

President Donald Trump said Iran had "sort of" made a deal with the U.S. on its nuclear program, one that he hoped would secure "long-term peace". The remarks come as the U.S. president is touring the Middle East.
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Growing tensions between Iran and the United States unfolded as they concluded a fourth round of nuclear negotiations last week in Oman, with Trump threatening military action if a deal is not reached and a military buildup continuing.

Iran has also slammed the U.S. president's recent remarks in which he blamed the Islamic Republic for its destabilizing role in the region.

What To Know

"I think we're getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this," Trump said in Qatar during his four-day tour of the Middle East.

Trump says he hopes to achieve an agreement that would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran says it is developing nuclear energy for civilian purposes only, but the United States suspects it desires to build a nuclear bomb and Trump has said he will not allow that to happen and would act militarily if he thought it necessary. A key sticking point has been uranium enrichment, with Iran rejecting a U.S. requirement to stop it entirely.