News of the World
06-08-2025, 10:21 PM
USA
Quote:The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously rejected a multibillion-dollar lawsuit filed by the Mexican government that sought to hold American gun manufacturers legally accountable for the rampant cartel violence south of the border.
In a decision authored by Justice Elena Kagan, the Court ruled that Mexico's claims were barred by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), a 2005 federal statute that largely shields gunmakers and sellers from liability when crimes are committed with their products.
"Today's unanimous Supreme Court decision shutting down this ridiculous lawsuit against our company represents not only a big win for Smith & Wesson, but our industry, American sovereignty and, most importantly, every American who wishes to exercise his or her Second Amendment rights," Smith & Wesson President and CEO Mark Smith told Newsweek in a statement.
"This suit, brought by Mexico in collaboration with U.S.-based anti-Second Amendment activist groups, was an afront to our nation's sovereignty and a direct attack on the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. It is also only the latest example of their strategy of attacking our company and our industry by bringing one frivolous lawsuit after another, in a blatant abuse of our legal system to advance their anti-Constitutional agenda."
Why It Matters
Thousands of firearms found in Mexico have been linked to U.S. manufacturers and dealers in the past, with the weapons fueling violence, which has then led to mass migration into the United States.
What To Know
Big-name manufacturers, such as Smith & Wesson, had appealed to the justices after a lower court allowed the suit filed by the Mexican government to proceed.
Mexico had alleged that America's firearms companies had engaged in business practices that created a supply of firearms that were then smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border and ended up in the hands of cartels, failing to exercise "reasonable care."
Mexico sought to challenge the PLCAA, which was passed by Congress in 2005 and signed into law by then-President George W. Bush.
The country's case was initially dismissed by a Boston federal judge in 2024, but an appeals court overruled Dennis Saylor's decision.
Quote:David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California and SEIU-United Service Workers West's president, was injured and detained by federal agents during a series of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in downtown Los Angeles on Friday.
Newsweek reached out to SEIU via its online form on Saturday for comment.
The Context
As reported by Newsweek, hundreds of people flooded the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Friday following a series of reported raids carried out by ICE earlier that day.
The raids resulted in the detention of at least 44 individuals and sparked protests, with demonstrators clashing with law enforcement. ICE agents used pepper spray and smoke grenades to disperse the protesters.
What To Know
Reports say Huerta was observing and documenting ICE operations when he was allegedly pushed to the ground by federal agents, resulting in a head injury.
ABC News said, at one point, a scuffle broke out involving federal agents, during which Huerta appeared to be pushed and struck his head. In one video, a federal agent is seen pushing him while his hands are at his hips, causing him to fall to the ground.
Huerta was hospitalized for treatment and later transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he remained in custody, the Los Angeles Times said.
A SEIU press release updated Friday, stated: "David Huerta, President of SEIU California and SEIU- United Service Workers West, has been released from the hospital where he was treated for injuries sustained during his arrest and at this time remains in custody."
Quote:House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's call to place active-duty U.S. Marines near Los Angeles on "high alert" amid ongoing protests, saying during a Sunday interview appearance on ABC News that the move is not "heavy-handed."
Newsweek has reached out to Johnson for comment via email on Sunday.
Why It Matters
Federal immigration enforcement operations sparked protests across California for a second day in a row on Saturday. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out raids in Paramount, Los Angeles County, following similar actions at several locations throughout other parts of the city on Friday.
The Trump administration has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history and has conducted numerous ICE raids, some of which have swept up individuals with proper documentation. Earlier this week, protests erupted over claims that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building—allegations ICE has denied. A spokesperson previously told Newsweek that the agency "categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles."
Some protestors have thrown rocks at law enforcement, with one allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail, as well as burning items in the street. Agents have used tear gas on the crowds.
The clashes highlight deepening conflicts between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal immigration policy, as Trump has implemented sweeping changes through executive orders and utilized the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand deportation authority.
President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard to quell the protests. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the move, saying local law enforcement was already mobilized and the presence of the National Guard was "purposefully inflammatory," would "escalate tensions" and "erode public trust."
What To Know
Hegseth said in a Saturday evening post on X, formerly Twitter, that in addition to mobilizing guards, nearby Marines may also be called upon, writing, "And, if violence continues, active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert."
Quote:Elon Musk's father Errol has called his son's feud with President Donald Trump a "mistake," saying the pair "have been under incredible stress for five months."
Why It Matters
The world has watched the dramatic fallout between Trump, one of the most powerful men on the planet, and Elon Musk, the world's richest man.
It started with Musk's criticism of Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he called "outrageous," "pork-filled," and a "disgusting abomination."
Things escalated when Elon Musk claimed on social media, without providing evidence, that Trump was named in files about child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019—something the White House has denied.
What To Know
Errol Musk was in Moscow to speak at the Future Forum 2050, a conference on Russia's development headlined by Alexander Dugin, an ultranationalist firebrand often referred to as "Putin's philosopher".
Musk-senior told Russian media that Elon Musk's comments had been "a mistake," according to the national daily newspaper Izvestia.
"They've been under incredible stress for five months. Give them a break," Errol Musk said. "They had to get rid of the opposition, try to restore normalcy, focus on ordinary matters, and so on. They're exhausted and tense, so something like this isn't unusual."
He went on to say that he believes his son and Trump will come to a resolution soon.
His remarks came after Trump said that the Tesla CEO would face "very serious consequences" if the tech billionaire started to fund Democrats in the wake of their fallout.
Quote:Air quality alerts have been issued across six states on Friday, as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to impact parts of the U.S.
Why It Matters
Health authorities warn that worsening air quality presents a health hazard, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and individuals with existing medical conditions.
At least two people have died and tens of thousands have been evacuated in Canada as a result of the blazes, according to reports.
What To Know
The National Weather Service (NWS) published alerts for parts of Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska.
The alerts warned that elevated levels of particulate pollution were anticipated due to smoke from the blazes.
They also advised residents in affected areas, particularly those in sensitive groups, to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities.
Quote:A recall has been issued for thousands of cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar that were mislabeled and contained the full-sugar product, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The products were distributed to retailers in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Newsweek contacted Keurig Dr Pepper, which owns the product in the United States, and PepsiCo, which bottled the beverages, for comment via email outside of regular working hours.
Why It Matters
This mislabeling poses potential health risks to consumers, particularly for individuals managing conditions like diabetes or those monitoring their sugar intake
The FDA has issued a Class II risk classification for the recall, indicating that the consumption of the mislabeled products may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.
What To Know
The FDA said the company-initiated recall affects 19,203 cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar 12-fluid ounce cans, sold in 12-pack and 24-pack cartons.
The affected cans were produced at a Pepsi bottling facility in Jacksonville, Florida, which is licensed to manufacture Keurig Dr Pepper products, according to the FDA.
The affected products have the product code XXXXRS05165, and a best-by date of February 16, 2026.
The recall was initiated on May 23, 2025, and the FDA classified it as a Class II recall on June 5, 2025.
A can of regular Dr Pepper contains 39 grams of sugar, while the Zero Sugar version has zero grams, but contains the artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame potassium.
Quote:August Egg Company has issued a recall on Friday for 1,700,000 brown cage-free and certified organic brown eggs due to potential fears of salmonella.
Newsweek reached out to the company after hours via phone Friday night for comment.
Why It Matters
Numerous recalls have been initiated this year due to the potential for the following: damaged products, foodborne illness, contamination and undeclared food allergens.
Millions of Americans experience food sensitivities or food allergies every year. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the nine "major" food allergens in the U.S. are eggs, milk, fish, wheat, soybeans, Crustacean shellfish, sesame, tree nuts and peanuts.
The FDA warns that salmonella is an organism that could cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in frail or older people, young children and those with weakened immune systems.
What To Know
The FDA says in its alert that some of the eggs were distributed to grocery stores including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs.
Those eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 15, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 4, 2025, in both California and Nevada.
The FDA says additional eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 6, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 19, 2025, in Walmart stores in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Wyoming.
Quote:Kroger has announced recalls of multiple products in May, citing concerns including potential salmonella contamination to manufacturing defects.
The products range from food to kitchen items and kids' jewelry, and the recalls affect Kroger locations and its subsidiary stores nationwide.
Dinty Moore Beef Stew
Cans of Dinty Moore Beef Stew, 20 oz, produced by Hormel Foods Corporation, have been recalled due to the possibility that the products may be contaminated with foreign matter.
The recall impacts Kroger stores in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, West Virginia and Kentucky.
It also affects subsidiary stores that stock the products, such as Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food4Less, FoodsCo and Smith's.
The recalls were issued on May 29 and May 30.
Customers who have purchased the products are advised not to eat them and can return them for a full refund. They can be identified by their product code 37600-21583 and a best buy date of February 2028.
Cucumbers, Vegetable Platters and Salad Trays
Kroger stores have recalled several salad items following a cucumber recall from Bedner Growers due to possible salmonella contamination.
The items are:
Deli Fresh Veg Tray Medium
Deli Spring Mix Salad Tray
BRHD Hummus Veg Platter Small
BRHD Hummus Veg Platter Medium
Cucumbers
The products were recalled on May 21 and affected stores in the Greater Memphis area of Tennessee, as well as Arkansas, Mississippi, and Western Kentucky.
Kroger stated that any of these salad items purchased between May 8 and 21, as well as cucumbers purchased between May 14 and 21, should not be consumed.
Quote:Albertsons Companies has issued a voluntary recall of multiple store-prepared Greek salad products sold across 12 states and Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the alert as a Class I recall—its highest and most urgent warning level.
The salads were made using cucumbers linked to a multistate salmonella outbreak traced back to Bedner Growers Company.
Newsweek has contacted Albertsons, via email, and Bedner Growers Company, via online contact form, for comment.
Why It Matters
A Class I recall is reserved for products that pose a serious health risk with a "reasonable probability" of causing illness or even death if consumed. The recalled Greek salads were sold under several store brands in high-traffic northeastern grocery chains.
The FDA warning elevates the urgency for consumers who may still have the product in their refrigerators, particularly those with compromised immune systems, children, and elderly individuals more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.
What to Know
Recalled Products:
AMCE Greek Salad AUTHENTIC FS
Sold refrigerated in clear plastic containers by the pound
UPC: 293070 #####
READY MEALS Greek Salad SS
Sold refrigerated in clear plastic containers by the pound
UPC: 292483 #####
Star Market Greek Salad FS
Sold refrigerated in clear plastic containers by the pound
UPC: 292329 #####
Quote:Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been returned to the United States to face criminal charges more than two months after being mistakenly deported to El Salvador, the Department of Justice confirmed Friday.
The 29-year-old has been indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. for allegedly transporting undocumented migrants. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said during a press briefing that Abrego Garcia worked for nine years as a human trafficker.
"Our government presented El Salvador with an arrest warrant, and they agreed to return him to our country," Bondi said. "We are grateful to President Bukele for agreeing to return him to our country to face these very serious charges. This is what American justice looks like."
Abrego Garcia's legal team later said they had not been informed by the government about their client's return, finding out through the press.
"The government disappeared Kilmar to a foreign prison in violation of a court order. Now, after months of delay and secrecy, they're bringing him back, not to correct their error but to prosecute him," attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg said in a statement. "Due process means the chance to defend yourself before you're punished, not after. This is an abuse of power, not justice."
Why It Matters
Abrego Garcia was among the 230 migrants who were deported to El Salvador in March, where they were initially at the maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT.
The Trump administration has faced increasing pressure from the courts and Democrats to return the El Salvadoran immigrant who had been living in Maryland since he arrived in the U.S. illegally in 2011.
What To Know
A sealed indictment, filed in a Tennessee federal court last month, states that 29-year-old Abrego Garcia is part of an elaborate, decade-long conspiracy to transport thousands of undocumented migrants, including children and some gang members, across the country from Texas, the DOJ said.
Quote:The United States fetched Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador on Friday, nearly three months after his mistaken deportation, charging the Maryland-based migrant who became a flashpoint in the Trump administration's immigration policies with federal human trafficking crimes.
The 29-year-old Salvadoran national is accused of taking part in a human smuggling ring for around nine years, according to a Tennessee grand jury indictment filed on May 21. The indictment was made public on Friday, as Abrego Garcia was en route to the U.S. to be arraigned.
Friday afternoon, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Abrego Garcia had landed back in the U.S. "to face justice", after the Trump administration previously avoided facilitating his return from his home country despite an order by the U.S. Supreme Court.
His attorneys said at a media briefing Friday evening that the government was playing "dirty tricks".
Why It Matters
After it emerged Abrego Garcia was deported following an "administrative error" under the Alien Enemies Act, the Trump administration insisted that he was a known MS-13 gang member and criminal, despite not presenting evidence. The indictment finally lays out the allegations against him.
What To Know
The ten-page indictment filed in Tennessee charges Abrego Garcia with:
Conspiracy to transport aliens
Unlawful transportation of undocumented aliens
Bondi said Abrego Garcia would be tried on these charges and, if found guilty, serve a sentence in the U.S. before being returned to El Salvador.
Abrego Garcia's legal team told reporters Friday evening that he would be rigorously defending the allegations against him.
What Did Abrego Garcia Allegedly Do?
The indictment alleges that between 2016 and 2025, Abrego Garcia and a group of others "conspired to bring undocumented aliens to the United States from countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Ecuador, and elsewhere." These migrants passed through Mexico before reached the U.S.
The Salvadoran allegedly used cell phones and social media to coordinate the operation, taking payments from the individuals they were smuggling.
The indictment repeats the claim that Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang, linked to the aforementioned countries and originating out of Los Angeles, and that he used his status within the gang to "further his criminal activity".
Quote:A California appeals court has ruled that it is illegal for drivers to hold a cellphone while using a navigation app—even if they are not tapping or swiping.
Why It Matters
The ruling significantly broadens the scope of California's distracted driving law and could impact thousands of drivers who routinely glance at maps while holding their phones.
What To Know
The court determined that simply holding a phone and looking at a map while driving qualifies as "operating" the device under California law—making it a ticketable offense.
Mounted phones that are operated with a single swipe are still permitted, but holding a phone at any point while driving, even passively, now crosses the legal line, according to the ruling.
The ruling stems from the case of Nathaniel Gabriel Porter, who was ticketed after he was seen holding his phone in his left hand while looking at a mapping app. Although he was not interacting with the phone's screen, a police officer pulled him over and issued a $158 fine.
Porter contested the ticket, and a lower court initially sided with him, ruling that "merely observing GPS directions on the phone does not constitute the kind of active use or manipulation to trigger an infraction." But the appellate court reversed that decision, ruling that the law's intent goes beyond physical manipulation of the phone.
"When legislators adopted the current state law prohibiting drivers from 'operating' a cellphone while driving, they did so 'to reduce distracted driving resulting from advancements in modern phones and to encourage drivers to keep their eyes on the road,'" the court wrote.
Under the statute, passed in 2016, drivers must use mounted devices if they wish to access their phones for any reason, including navigation. Fines can start at $20 for a first offense but often increase because of additional fees and penalties.
Quote:President Donald Trump took a victory lap on Friday after an appeals court ruled that he can bar the Associated Press (AP) from attending certain White House events.
The Context
The Trump administration in February barred the AP from covering events in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One and other restricted areas because the news outlet refused to comply with Trump's directive to call the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America."
The AP filed a lawsuit in response, saying that the administration violated the First and Fifth amendments by retaliating against the outlet for its editorial decisions.
What To Know
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia paused a lower court's order that had lifted the White House ban on the news agency's journalists and photographers.
"We grant in part the government's motion for a stay pending appeal," the panel of judges said in their ruling.
"Big WIN over AP today," Trump wrote on his social media website, Truth Social. "They refused to state the facts or the Truth on the GULF OF AMERICA. FAKE NEWS!!!"
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden initially denied the AP's request for an immediate restraining order but granted a preliminary injunction in April, ordering the White House to restore the AP's access to presidential events. McFadden emphasized in his ruling that the government cannot exclude journalists based on their viewpoints.
The Trump administration appealed McFadden's order and the appeals court ruled in a 2-1 decision Friday that the administration can bar AP journalists from some areas, like the Oval Office and Air Force One, while the lawsuit works its way through the courts.
Quote:Prosecutors released new excerpts from Luigi Mangione's spiral notebook, detailing the alleged killer's motive for targeting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
A Wednesday court filing described detailed planning and ideological motivations, including Mangione's stated desire to avoid civilian casualties.
Mangione, 27, was arrested five days after Thompson was shot and killed outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024. Authorities have characterized the crime as premeditated and politically motivated, and the evidence is now at the center of upcoming court proceedings.
Newsweek reached out to Mangione's legal team for comment.
Why It Matters
The killing of Thompson, CEO of the country's largest health insurer, has highlighted deep public frustration with the American health insurance system and ignited debate over the potential for violent acts as a form of protest.
In the wake of the crime, health insurance employees expressed heightened fears for their safety. The case has drawn both public condemnation and some support for Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges in his federal and state cases.
What To Know
According to the court filing, Mangione's diary entries chronicled months of planning. He allegedly surveilled Thompson near the Midtown hotel the night before the killing.
An August 15, 2024, entry read: "I finally feel confident about what I will do. The details are coming together. And I don't feel any doubt about whether it's right/justified. I'm glad in a way that I've procrastinated bc it allowed me to learn more about UHC."
It said that after considering another target, he chose the health insurance industry.
"The target is insurance. It checks every box," the August entry read.
Mangione's red notebook, seized during his arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, contained statements allegedly explaining his rationale for targeting UnitedHealthcare and seeking maximum public impact. He reasoned that attacking the CEO at an annual investor event was "targeted, precise and doesn't risk innocents."
Quote:Wes Moore, the Governor of Maryland, has said there is "no evidence" the 2,000-gallon (7,570-liter) diesel fuel spill in Baltimore's harbor is currently impacting drinking water.
Crews in Baltimore were racing to contain the fuel spill that began at Johns Hopkins Hospital and spread over a mile to a marina in the city's harbor, prompting a coordinated response from local, state and federal agencies through the night and during Thursday morning.
Moore, writing on X, said: "UPDATE ON OIL SPILL: As of this morning, we have no evidence to suggest there is any impact on drinking water in the area.
"But we still have more work to do.
"We ask that everyone use alternate routes AWAY from Harbor East to help ensure our emergency crews can do their jobs."
Quote:Former President Joe Biden has called the investigation into his competence to serve during his term in the White House "nothing more than a distraction."
President Donald Trump directed the White House on Wednesday to probe Biden's executive actions, including pardons and the alleged use of an autopen for signatures. The inquiry also alleges Biden's top aides masked his "cognitive decline."
"Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn't is ridiculous and false," Biden said in a statement.
"This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations."
Why It Matters
Trump's order marks a significant escalation in his targeting of political adversaries, and could lay the groundwork for claims that a range of Biden's actions as president were invalid.
However, the president's pardon power is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, and Trump has presented no evidence that Biden was unaware of the actions taken in his name.
What To Know
In a memorandum on Wednesday, Trump ordered his White House counsel, in consultation with the attorney general, to investigate whether "certain individuals conspired to deceive the public about Biden's mental state and unconstitutionally exercise the authorities and responsibilities of the President."
The memo said the investigation would look into "any activity" to "purposefully shield" the public from information about Biden's physical and mental health, documents that were signed by autopen, and those who directed the use of it.
Trump has frequently suggested that Biden was wrong to use an autopen, a mechanical device that replicates a person's authentic signature.
The Justice Department, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, has recognized the use of an autopen to sign legislation and issue pardons for decades.
Biden's age and health were top concerns among voters during his presidency.
Quote:President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to join talks on Iran's nuclear program and may help bring the negotiations to a close. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump described an "over hour-long" call with Putin, during which they discussed Iran, nuclear weapons, and Russia's response to a Ukrainian drone strike.
Trump wrote both leaders agreed that Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon," and claimed Putin suggested he could "be helpful" in reaching a quick resolution. He also accused Iran of "slow walking" talks and urged urgency.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House as well as the Kremlin and Iran's foreign ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
An offer from Putin to join the nuclear negotiations would coincide with a growing strategic alliance between Russia and Iran, both of which seek to counter Western power.
Russia's entrance into the nuclear talks could add pressure to Iran, but it could also shift the diplomatic balance away from Washington's preferred framework. It also marks a moment where Moscow, despite its war in Ukraine and increasing isolation from the West, asserts its role in shaping high-stakes global security issues.
What to Know
According to Trump, Putin said he would be willing to join discussions and "could, perhaps, be helpful" in pushing Iran toward a final nuclear agreement. While Russia was previously a party to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—a multilateral agreement that placed limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief—it has taken a backseat amid shifting diplomatic dynamics and the U.S. withdrawal under Trump's prior administration.
After the call, Putin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed Trump's account, saying the U.S. president believed "Russia's assistance may be necessary" and would welcome Moscow working with the Iranian side.
Quote:A North Carolina high school student who was suspended in April 2024 for using the term "illegal alien" during class has secured a $20,000 settlement, a public apology, and the removal of references to racial bias from his school record, according to court documents first obtained by The Carolina Journal.
The settlement between the Davidson County Board of Education and the student's family is pending judicial approval in federal court.
"On Friday, we filed a motion asking the court to approve a settlement that would resolve this matter. Because Christian is a minor, a court hearing is required before the settlement can become final," Dean McGee, Senior Counsel for Educational Freedom, Liberty Justice Center, which is representing student Christian McGhee, adding, "We'll have more to say after that hearing, which is currently scheduled for July 1st. We're pleased to take this important step toward clearing our client's name."
Newsweek reached out to the school district via email for comment on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
This case raised national questions about free speech, students' rights, and school discipline policies in the United States.
The legal dispute tested the limits of First Amendment protections in educational settings, and the resulting settlement has been cited as a notable development in debates over language, race, and disciplinary practices in public schools.
The story has garnered widespread media attention and sparked discussion about the balance between promoting inclusive school environments and safeguarding constitutionally protected speech.
What To Know
The Davidson County Board of Education agreed to issue a public apology, pay $20,000 in compensation, and expunge all references to racial bias from the student's school records as part of a lawsuit settlement, according to filings with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Quote:Eight young adults have been charged in connection with a mass shooting at a North Carolina house party earlier this month, with four facing more than 10 counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office.
Several others have been charged with aiding and abetting and accessary.
Newsweek has reached out to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office and the FBI Charlotte office for comment via email on Saturday.
The Context
Law enforcement responded to reports of people being shot at a residence in Catawba County, approximately an hour north of Charlotte, around 12:45 a.m. on June 1. Twelve victims were reported, one of whom died.
"The investigation indicates more than one shooter was involved in the incident," Major Aaron Turk of the Catawba County Sheriff's said in a June 1 press conference, later noting that "more than 80 shots were fired."
An estimated 130 to 160 mass shootings have occurred in the United States so far this year, according to data from the Mass Shooting Tracker and the Gun Violence Archive.
What To Know
Over the past week, law enforcement officials, working with the FBI, have arrested several people in connection with the shooting, for charges related to attempted murder, accessory, and aiding and abetting.
Although the victims at the party range in age from 16 to 58, the suspects are young adults. The deceased victim has been identified as 58-year-old Shawn Patrick Hood of Lenoi, North Carolina.
UKRAINE WAR
Quote:The Kremlin confirmed a Ukrainian attack on the Kerch Bridge that connects Russia to Crimea, but said the crossing remains operational and there was no damage, despite video footage capturing the moment an underwater explosion rocked the structure.
Ukraine's security service (SBU) revealed on June 3 it had carried out a special operation targeting the Crimean bridge, saying it had mined the underwater supports and the explosions left it "in disrepair." It was followed by a naval drone attack.
It was the third attack against the Crimean Bridge—a strategically important road and rail structure, and a symbol of Moscow's occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula—since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Why It Matters
The Crimean Bridge is a critical supply and transport route for Russian forces in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The Kerch Bridge is also a physical representation of Moscow's view that the peninsula is an inseparable part of Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. Ukraine regards Crimea as its territory and the Russian occupation as temporary, and says it will never recognize Moscow's sovereignty.
What to Know
The SBU's latest operation against the bridge follows its mass drone strike on Russia's nuclear-capable strategic bombers on June 1—dubbed by some observers as "Russia's Pearl Harbor"—delivering a double blow for Moscow.
In a post on Telegram, the SBU said its agents had mined the underwater supports of the bridge in an operation months in the planning, detonating the first device at 4:44 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
The SBU said it had "badly damaged" those supports with the explosives, which had the blast equivalent of 1,100 kilograms of TNT. "In fact, the bridge is in disrepair," the SBU said.
Quote:China urged all parties involved in the Russia-Ukraine war to cool down the conflict in response to Kyiv's stunning Operation Spiderweb against Russian airfields, which destroyed a number of Moscow's strategic nuclear bombers deep inside Russia.
The operation has been dubbed "Russia's Pearl Harbor" because of its shock value and significance. Ukraine said it hit 41 aircraft in total, causing an estimated $7 billion of damage, in a major material and psychological blow to Russian security.
Russia and China have deepened their strategic partnership over the course of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Beijing has supported Russia's war economy through large-scale oil purchases after Western allies imposed tough sanctions over the invasion.
Asked by Newsweek about the recent Ukrainian operation, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, DC, said China's position is "consistent and clear".
"It calls on all parties to abide by the 'three principles' for cooling down the situation, namely, no spillover of the battlefield, no escalation of the conflict and no fanning the flames," the spokesperson said.
"China will continue to maintain communication with the international community and play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the crisis."
Quote:Kazakhstan's defense ministry said it is investigating the "appearance of unidentified objects in the sky," after footage widely circulated on social media claimed to show a botched launch of Moscow's experimental Oreshnik missile.
Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Russia fired its Oreshnik missile for the first time at Ukraine in November, targeting a Ukrainian military site in the central city of Dnipro.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the missile as a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), able to travel long distances at 10 times the speed of sound, or Mach 10.
Ukrainian authorities initially reported Moscow had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and had traveled up to Mach 11. The Pentagon later said the missile was modeled on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh ICBM.
Moscow said the missile was impossible to intercept and able to carry nuclear warheads. Footage showed the missile carried six warheads which slammed into different targets close to one another in Dnipro.
Ukraine on Sunday launched coordinated drone attacks on multiple Russian air bases across the country, with one official claiming to have destroyed 13 Russian aircraft.
Quote:During his Wednesday phone call with President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to respond to Ukraine's large-scale drone strike on military aircraft.
Trump shared details of his 75-minute call with Putin in a post to Truth Social.
Despite Putin's threat, Trump described the call as a "good conversation" but acknowledged it was not one "that will lead to immediate Peace."
Why It Matters
Ukraine's operation "Spider's Web" saw a large-scale and simultaneous series of drone strikes against air bases in Russia on Sunday. SBU sources said the strike attacks included Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk Oblast, 2,500 miles from the front line in Ukraine.
The drones were transported to Russia, hidden in trucks with retractable roofs, which were parked near the air bases. The drones were then launched remotely. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes had destroyed 34 percent of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers.
Pro-Russian military bloggers compared the strikes to the Imperial Japanese Navy's December 7, 1941, attack on Hawaii's Pearl Harbor.
What Did Trump and Putin Discuss?
Wednesday's phone call was the first time Trump has spoken to Putin since he warned the Russian leader he was "playing with fire" by attacking Ukraine during peace talks.
Trump said he spoke to Putin for more than an hour, with the pair discussing the recent attacks as well as "other attacks that have been taking place by both sides."
Quote:Russia plans to seize half of Ukraine by the end of next year, according to Kyiv, which has released a map outlining purported territorial expansion plans that could put Moscow on a collision course with President Donald Trump's repeated calls for peace talks.
Ukrainian Presidential Office Deputy Head Colonel Pavlo Palisa made the claims, and they were followed by Trump warning that he would use further sanctions against Moscow if the war dragged on.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and the Kremlin for comment.
Why It Matters
The map presented by Kyiv shows territorial intentions far beyond the formal demands Moscow has made before it would agree to a ceasefire. But Trump has warned of further sanctions on Russia if it drags out peace negotiations.
A bipartisan sanctions bill in the U.S. seeks to impose a 500-percent levy on imports from countries that buy Russian oil and raw materials.
What To Know
Palisa told reporters Thursday that Russia intends to capture all of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by September 1 and create a buffer zone along the northern Ukrainian-Russian border by the end of this year.
Palisa also said Moscow intended to occupy all of Ukraine on the east (left) bank of the Dnieper River and capture the regions of Odesa and Mykolaiv by the end of 2026, which would deprive Ukraine of access to the Black Sea.
Why It Matters
The map presented by Kyiv shows territorial intentions far beyond the formal demands Moscow has made before it would agree to a ceasefire. But Trump has warned of further sanctions on Russia if it drags out peace negotiations.
A bipartisan sanctions bill in the U.S. seeks to impose a 500-percent levy on imports from countries that buy Russian oil and raw materials.
What To Know
Palisa told reporters Thursday that Russia intends to capture all of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by September 1 and create a buffer zone along the northern Ukrainian-Russian border by the end of this year.
Palisa also said Moscow intended to occupy all of Ukraine on the east (left) bank of the Dnieper River and capture the regions of Odesa and Mykolaiv by the end of 2026, which would deprive Ukraine of access to the Black Sea.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) published a map Palisa had presented. It pointed to Moscow's plans to seize roughly 85,000 additional square miles of Ukrainian territory and hold a total of 129,000 square miles by the end of 2026, over half the total area of Ukraine.
Yuriy Boyechko, founder of Hope for Ukraine, which helps those living on the front line, told Newsweek that Moscow will not stop its current offensive until December and warned that it will occupy new regions of Ukraine by the end of 2025.
However, the Washington, D.C., think tank ISW said Friday that Russian forces are highly unlikely to be able to make the advances Palisa suggested in this time frame, given the current pace of Moscow's advances, and if Ukraine continues to receive Western aid.
The ISW said that Palisa's map suggests Moscow will try to seize and leverage positions in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions to push on and capture all of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Quote:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview that aired on Sunday revealed the difficulty that followed the high-profile blowup between himself and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in late February.
Zelensky, speaking with ABC News' Martha Raddatz in Ukraine, described the situation as "quite complicated" as he had to try and repair relations with his American counterpart.
"It's important that I defend my position and I was trying to do that in the Oval Office," he said.
Why It Matters
Trump had said he would end the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours of retaking office, but later he admitted that the situation was fairly complicated, at times saying that Ukraine is "more difficult, frankly, to deal with." Trump also said he worried Russian President Vladimir Putin may be trying to drag out peace negotiations while pressing on with the war that began in February 2022.
The lack of progress has prompted Trump to start taking a more laid-back approach to the conflict, best encapsulated last week when he compared the warring nations to "young children fighting like crazy...in a park."
"You try to pull them apart and they don't want to be pulled apart," he said. "Sometimes you have to let them fight for a while."
What To Know
Trump and Zelensky had a falling out on February 28 when the Ukrainian leader visited the White House to sign a deal that would grant the U.S. access to his country's vast mineral reserves in a move the U.S. assured would create strong economic ties and deepen the threat to Russia continuing to escalate the conflict.
In the now-famous exchange, Zelensky asked about the value of deals when Putin had broken previously agreed upon ones, which in turn provoked an angry response from Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Trump declared that Zelensky had "no cards" to play in the conflict and needed the U.S. to have any chance of survival.
Quote:Kharkiv has been hit by a barrage of Russian drones, missiles and bombs in what has been described as the biggest attack Ukraine's second-largest city has faced in Vladimir Putin's invasion.
"Kharkiv is facing the most powerful attack it has had in the entire full-scale war," posted Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram after strikes overnight Friday that other officials said had killed at least three people and injured 19.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
Russia launched a mass missile and drone strike against Ukraine the previous night, which targeted major cities, including the capital Kyiv, and the far-western regions.
There had been anticipation over Moscow's response to Ukraine's bold drone attacks earlier in the week, dubbed Operation Spiderweb, which Kyiv said had taken out of commission one-third of Russia's air-bomber fleet. Later attacks also damaged the construction of the Kerch Bridge between Russia and Crimea.
What To Know
Kharkiv Oblast is in Ukraine's northeast and located along the war's front line, is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide-bomb attacks from across the border.
At least 40 explosions were reported across Kharkiv overnight Friday, as civilian targets were struck by drones, including a nine-story residential building, local enterprise, a home, and other facilities, officials said.
Terekhov reported that 48 Shahed drones, two missiles, and four guided aerial bombs were launched toward the city, in particular its Osnovyanskyi and Kyiv districts.
At least three people were killed and 18 injured. Among the latter were two children, including a 1-month-old baby, according to local authorities.
Quote:Ukraine has struck a Russian train carrying military equipment, destroying 13 tanks and more than 100 armored vehicles
The Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine posted about the Saturday attack, along with multiple others, on social media.
Why It Matters
Ukraine's attack marks a significant tactical gain as it continues to pressure Russian logistics and supply chains.
The strike on a Russian freight train transporting military equipment—particularly locomotives hauling armored units—deals a substantial blow to Moscow's ability to reinforce its front-line positions quickly.
What To Know
Kyiv also had to "repel" multiple Russian assaults, the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine said, with five taking place near Malynivka and toward Poltavka.
Two Russian attacks near Piatykhatky and toward Pavlivka "on the position of our defenders" were described as "useless."
In the 24 hours leading up to Saturday, Ukraine recorded more than 800 Russian attacks using different types of kamikaze drones and had itself carried out more than 350 drone strikes, dropping around 450 munitions.
In the southern region, Russian forces carried out 12 airstrikes in the past 24 hours with a total of 47 guided bombs hitting settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Front-line towns and villages in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions were hit by artillery and drone attacks.
In total, 41 attacks were recorded in 22 different places. In the Kherson region, two people were killed and 10 others were injured due to the shelling, according to Kyiv.
Russian forces would also purportedly try to seize Kherson Oblast and create a "buffer zone" along the border in northern Ukraine by the end of this year.
But neither of these scenarios is likely in this period, the ISW said. In Donetsk, Russia had only advanced around 30 miles from the outskirts of Avdiivka in the last 15 months. Moscow would struggle to capture the rest of Kherson region, which required crossing the Dnieper River, the ISW added.
Quote:Russian soldiers have advanced into Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, the Moscow's Defense Ministry has said.
Why It Matters
Moscow is pushing into new territory in a region which has remained under Ukrainian control throughout the conflict, while simultaneously blaming Ukraine for stalling peace negotiations.
Russian control of the Dnipropetrovsk region, just west of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, would mean a threat to Kyiv from the southeast.
What To Know
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a post on Telegram on Sunday: "Units of the 90th Tank Division of the Center Forces Group have reached the western border of the Donetsk People's Republic and continue to develop the offensive in the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region."
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) maps do not yet show the invasion of the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to analysis by the independent Russia-language news channel Agency News.
However, the maps show that the combat zone is located in close proximity to the region's border, according to OSINT project DeepState.
Pro-Russian blogger Yuriy Podolyaka wrote about the announcement on Telegram, saying: "As they say in such cases, now officially…But in fact, we have already entered there on a fairly wide front."
Russian TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov was one of several who previously claimed that the Russian army had entered Dnipropetrovsk in May.
Quote:Moscow's economy is sliding toward the brink of "stagflation," according to a new report published by a Russian economics research organization close to the country's government.
The report's author, Dmitry Belousov, head of analysis and forecasting of macroeconomic processes at the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (CAMAC), said that the "economic dynamics" in Russia are "rapidly declining, with a risk of a technical recession in the second and third quarters" of 2025.
Why It Matters
After the invasion of Ukraine, Russia's economy has been seriously affected by sanctions imposed by Western countries trying to cripple its ability to finance the war, but it crucially avoided entering a recession. Now, however, the economy is facing a risky combination of factors—including rising prices, slowing growth and an acute labor shortage—that is threatening its stability and outlook.
In a sign that the Kremlin is aware of how fragile the country's economic position currently is, Russia's central bank cut its key interest rate to 20 percent on Friday, down from a two-decade high of 21 percent.
What To Know
According to the report released earlier this week and authored by Belousov, GDP growth in Russia slowed down to 1.4 percent in Q1 2025 compared to a year earlier. While inflation is slowing down, it remains very high, at 9.8 percent.
While slowing investments in machinery and equipment has played into this slowdown, Belousov said that it has been accelerated by "growing problems in construction," with the number of new projects now declining, and falling consumer demand, especially when it comes to non-food products. According to the report, consumer spending has been stagnating since mid-2024.
ASIA
Quote:A United States amphibious warship capable of projecting military power from sea to shore has begun its transit to Japan—the U.S.'s ally in Northeast Asia—for forward deployment.
The deployment of USS Tripoli—an America-class amphibious assault ship—demonstrates Washington's commitment to the defense of Japan, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said on Monday. It added, "The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires the most capable ships."
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense and Foreign ministries for comment by email.
Why It Matters
According to the U.S. Navy, amphibious warships are "capable of sailing in harm's way" and enabling rapid combat power buildup ashore in the face of opposition. The Tripoli and other U.S. amphibious assault ships resemble small aircraft carriers, as they can carry fighter jets.
China, which challenges the U.S.'s naval dominance in the western Pacific Ocean with the world's largest navy by hull count, has been rapidly building its own amphibious force for a potential island-landing campaign across the contested Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.
Japan, which hosts 55,000 U.S. military personnel, is part of the first island chain—along with Taiwan and the Philippines—under the U.S.'s maritime containment strategy, which seeks to restrict China's access to the wider Pacific Ocean through U.S.-aligned territories.
What To Know
The Tripoli departed Naval Base San Diego in California on May 19 to forward-deploy to Sasebo in Japan, the U.S. Pacific Fleet announced, adding that the deployment was part of a "scheduled rotation" of forces in the region, as the Tripoli would replace its sister ship, USS America.
Quote:The Philippines has released footage showing Chinese maritime forces operating near its largest outpost in the South China Sea's disputed Spratly Islands archipelago.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Philippine military for comment via written requests.
Why It Matters
China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, citing "historical rights," which puts it at odds with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and Indonesia. In 2016, an arbitral tribunal in the Hague dismissed the sweeping claims featured in China's "nine-dashed line" map as incompatible with maritime law. Beijing rejected the decision.
The Philippines has mounted a stiff challenge to expanding Chinese activities in its exclusive economic zone. The resulting standoffs between Chinese and Philippine government vessels have raised concerns that Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington could pull the U.S. into a conflict with its East Asian rival.
What To Know
On Wednesday, the People's Television Network, a Philippine state-owned broadcaster, released footage showing Chinese vessels operating off the coast of Thitu Island, well within the 12-nautical-mile (13.8-mile) territorial sea claimed by Manila.
The ships included a Chinese coast guard cutter, a People's Liberation Army Navy warship and what appeared to be two vessels from China's so-called Maritime Militia. The agency did not specify when the footage was taken.
Administered by the Philippines since 1971, Thitu is the largest of the Spratly Islands under the country's control and hosts a small permanent population.
Quote:Chinese officials responded to complaints on Thursday over export controls on rare earth elements—a group of metals crucial to a range of technologies, from electric motors to missile guidance systems.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
Why It Matters
China dominates the rare earth industry, accounting for 70 percent of mining and 90 percent of chemical processing. The imbalance is an Achilles' heel for Washington, which sees dependence on its top military rival as a national security threat.
Beijing exploited this vulnerability in April, curbing exports of seven rare earths after President Donald Trump raised tariffs. The restrictions, along with investment bans on 17 American companies, were loosened last month after the United States and China reached a 90-day ceasefire in Geneva, Switzerland.
Negotiations have since stalled. Trump has accused China of violating the agreement, without specifying how. Beijing believes Washington breached the consensus by tightening export controls on AI chips produced by Chinese tech giant Huawei "anywhere in the world" and by planning to revoke Chinese student visas.
What To Know
U.S. officials have said the country is still withholding rare earth shipments and magnets. European car manufacturers have complained of disruptions, and Japanese automaker Suzuki has reportedly halted production due to a parts shortage.
Asked about the restrictions during the Chinese Ministry of Commerce's regular press conference, spokesperson He Yadong said it was "international practice" to maintain export controls on rare earths, citing their dual-use civilian and military applications.
"The Chinese government will review applications for export licenses related to dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations, and will approve those applications that meet the requirements to facilitate compliant trade," he said.
Quote:China has accused President Donald Trump of causing severe disruption to global supply chains after he doubled the United States' steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 percent.
Trump hiked the Section 232 tariffs in a proclamation that took effect on June 4, after reevaluating the impact of importing large quantities of the metals, which he says pose a threat to national security because they undermine domestic production.
He Yongqian, spokesperson for the Chinese Commerce Ministry, stated at a press briefing on Thursday that China has "repeatedly emphasized that the Section 232 tariffs are typical unilateralist and protectionist actions."
She said the World Trade Organization (WTO) determined they violated its rules, state media reported.
"The U.S.' latest tariff hike on steel, aluminum, and their derivatives not only harms others and itself, failing to enhance industrial security, but also severely disrupts the stability of global industrial and supply chains," the spokesperson said.
"China urges the U.S. to respect economic laws, abandon zero-sum thinking, stop overstretching and abusing the concept of national security, uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system, address concerns through equal dialogue, and work together to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains."
Quote:Anew framework for resolving state-to-state disputes may be viewed by China as means of further extending its influence in the Global South—but some observers say the newly minted International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) is more show than substance.
China was joined by 32 other founding members on May 30 for the launch ceremony, where Beijing's top diplomat Wang Yi hailed the IOMed as "an example of civilization's belief in harmony."
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department and Chinese Foreign Ministry with emailed requests for comment.
Why It Matters
Unlike existing institutions such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and the International Court of Justice, the IOMed aims to facilitate the resolution of international disputes through bilateral mediation.
That dozens of nations—from Indonesia to Serbia—have already signed on signals China's growing influence at a time when the United States under President Donald Trump retreats from global institutions like the World Health Organization and cuts funding for long-standing tools of American soft power such as USAID.
What To Know
In his remarks at the signing ceremony, Wang praised the newly minted framework as filling an "institutional gap" while aligning with Chinese President Xi Jinping's preference for resolving disagreements through dialogue and consultation.
"China has been actively exploring ways of hotspot issue settlement that carry the Chinese touch, so as to lend our thoughts to countries seeking to resolve problems or disagreements with others," Wang said.
He added that the IOMed had been conceived in accordance with the United Nations Charter and would promote decision-making on an egalitarian basis in pursuit of "win-win outcomes."
Quote:China has deployed naval vessels beyond an island chain in the Western Pacific—a strategic barrier to contain its forces—passing through waterways near Japan, a close United States ally.
Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines form the First Island Chain—an arc of allied territories aimed at limiting China's access to the broader Western Pacific under a U.S. containment strategy. The Chinese navy is the world's largest by hull count, with more than 370 vessels.
The Chinese military has frequently used waterways around Japan—including the Osumi Strait and the Miyako Strait—for naval deployments beyond the First Island Chain. Beijing claims that it is exercising its rights under an international maritime law treaty.
Since mid-May, China has sent multiple warships to waters east of the First Island Chain, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry—including a naval task group led by the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning and another centered around the amphibious assault ship CNS Anhui.
What To Know
The Joint Staff of the Japanese Defense Ministry reported that two Chinese naval vessels—the Type 055 destroyer CNS Lhasa and the Type 054A frigate CNS Weifang—transited the Osumi Strait, south of Japan's main island of Kyushu, between Wednesday and Thursday.
Quote:North Korea has righted a naval ship that capsized and was damaged during a botched launch in May, restoring its balance and mooring it to a pier, state media confirmed.
The launch failure was an embarrassment for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the incident and scolded the officials responsible, later saying they would be held criminally liable.
The destroyer is now set for repairs in the Rajin Dockyard over the next 10 days, North Korea's KCNA reported, with a deadline for its "perfect restoration" set by Kim for before a major party congress in late June.
Why It Matters
Kim is trying to modernize North Korea's navy, part of a broader revamp of the armed forces. The North Korean navy is a modest fleet largely made up of aging warships and smaller fast attack craft.
Pyongyang is also pressing forward with its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
What To Know
Outside experts say it remains unclear how severely the 5,000-ton-class destroyer was damaged. Kim called the failure a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism."
The destroyer became unbalanced and was punctured in its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the stern section slid off and became stuck, KCNA said at the time.
North Korean law enforcement authorities have detained at least four officials over the incident, including the vice director of the Workers' Party's munitions industry department, according to state media.
North Korea's main military committee said those responsible would be held accountable for their "unpardonable criminal act."
Quote:In a significant diplomatic step with implications for global alliances, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced he will attend the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, this month, after being invited by Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney's office confirmed the invitation was made in a call with Modi.
Why It Matters
Modi's attendance at the G7, of which India is not a member, signals an improvement in the relationship between India and Canada after a very rocky period and came after reports that no invitation would be forthcoming for Modi this year, triggering criticism of Modi from his political opponents.
India's association with the G7 group of industrialized democracies underlines its strategic importance for the United States and its allies at a time of growing geopolitical polarization.
While India is the world's largest democracy, it is also part of the BRICS alliance alongside Western rivals China and Russia, making the world's most populous nation a key pivot point in global affairs. Russia was excluded from what was formerly the G8 in 2014 after annexing Crimea.
What To Know
Prime Minister Modi took to X on Friday to announce he had received and accepted a personal invitation from newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Modi posted: "Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit."
The Carney-Modi call marks the highest-level dialogue between the two countries since ties soured under his predecessor Justin Trudeau's government.
Carney's new administration appears to have shifted to a more pragmatic tone: prioritizing trade, diaspora ties, and democratic values over lingering espionage-related disputes. India, for its part, views reengagement as a sign of Western acknowledgment of its strategic indispensability.
India-Canada relations have been in the deep freeze since September 2023, primarily stemming from Canadian allegations—vigorously denied by India—linking Indian agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader.
Canada's intelligence service had also identified India as one of the countries that could attempt to meddle in Candian elections.
Quote:Births in Japan fell to a record low last year, according to newly released government data, as the country faces a deepening demographic crisis.
Newsweek has contacted the Japanese Foreign Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Japan's steadily declining births and overall aging population present serious long-term risks, threatening to sap the world's fifth-largest economy of vitality and strain its social welfare system.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has labeled the trend a "quiet emergency" and made reversing it a central pillar of his agenda.
What To Know
The number of babies born to Japanese citizens in 2024 fell to 686,061, a 5.7 percent drop from the previous year, according to statistics the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare released on Wednesday. It marked the first time since 1899, when record-keeping began, that annual births fell below 700,000.
For the 18th consecutive year, deaths outpaced births, resulting in a net population loss of 919,237, the ministry said.
Japan's fertility rate also declined, falling to 1.15 expected births per woman—down from 1.2 in 2023. A rate of 2.1 is widely considered the replacement threshold for a stable population without large-scale immigration.
Japan is not alone. China and Taiwan face similar demographic declines, while South Korea—which has the distinction of having the world's lowest fertility rate—joined Japan last year as a "super-aged society," meaning people 65 and older make up 20 percent of the population.
What People Have Said
Kei Nishiuchi, the CEO of SoujouData Inc., a data science consultancy in Tokyo, told the Fuji News Network: "As the number of elderly increases and the working-age population shrinks, we're starting to see an impact on the economy's overall productivity. Even the very assumptions behind how our society redistributes resources—such as who pays taxes and who provides eldercare—are being called into question.
MIDDLE EAST
Quote:The United States on Wednesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The Context
The U.S. has played a key role as an interlocutor in ceasefire talks between Hamas and the Israeli government with respect to Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip.
Israel launched its military offensive against Gaza in retaliation against Hamas for its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Since the war started, tens of thousands of Gazans have been killed and millions have been displaced.
What To Know
The U.S. was the only Security Council member nation to vote against this week's measure, which called for humanitarian aid to be allowed to resume in Gaza.
All 14 other members of the council voted in favor of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "catastrophic" and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory.
For a Security Council resolution to pass, it must receive nine votes with no vetoes from its five permanent members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
The U.S. has vetoed four resolutions calling for ceasefire since Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel. It abstained from voting on one resolution, allowing it to pass last year.
The U.S.'s acting ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, told the Security Council before the vote that the resolution would undermine Israel's security. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, thanked the U.S. for its vote and said the resolution's failure to made the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas a condition for the ceasefire would have handed Hamas "time, leverage and political cover."
Quote:A representative of a left-wing faction fighting alongside the Islamist Hamas movement in Gaza has told Newsweek his group is open to a temporary ceasefire in their war with Israel and called for greater efforts to establish a unity government among different Palestinian parties.
Amid an apparent deadlock in Israel-Hamas negotiations being mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) issued a statement on Friday urging Hamas "to intensify efforts, in cooperation with the Arab mediators, to reach an agreement to halt the aggression—even if only for 60 days."
The message, which emphasized "the grave dangers our people face if an immediate ceasefire is not achieved," came as Hamas said it was consulting with its allies on the path forward in talks. Hamas has demanded a deal that would provide stronger guarantees toward a lasting cessation of hostilities, a position the U.S. and Israel have dismissed.
Speaking with Newsweek on Thursday, DFLP Political Bureau member Motasem Hamada explained that this statement "was an attempt by us to reach a 'partial step' that would guarantee a ceasefire, open the crossings, and meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza because we observed that living conditions had worsened and that the specter of famine was beginning to loom large."
"Our call to Hamas coincided with other positions with which Hamas consulted," Hamada said, "and based on this position, it formulated its position, which was rejected by the Israelis and the Americans."
Ultimately, Hamada said, the group seeks a solution based on United Nations Security Council resolution 2735, the measure put to a vote Wednesday and vetoed by the U.S., and is fighting to secure new governance that would include both top Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, which leads the West Bank-based Palestinian National Authority.
"We want an immediate ceasefire, unconditional aid for our people in the Gaza Strip (food, medicine, fuel, infrastructure, medical care, etc.), an Israeli withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip, a meaningful prisoner exchange, and the return of the Gaza Strip to the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority under the administration of a national unity government."
"This requires convincing both Fatah and Hamas," Hamada said, "and this is what we are working on."
Quote:Threats from both Iran and Israel are intensifying, pushing them closer to direct military conflict in an already volatile and war-torn region. Alongside Israeli military drills, stalled diplomatic talks, and proxy skirmishes, these hostile warnings signal a dangerous escalation.
Why It Matters
A potential full-scale war between Iran and Israel would further destabilize an already volatile Middle East, with serious implications for global security. Iran's missile advancements and unwavering position on nuclear enrichment, combined with the firm red lines set by the U.S. and ongoing, yet slow moving, attempts at diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, have intensified tensions. Such a conflict could disrupt global oil supplies, involve international powers, and deepen regional instability.
These five critical indicators highlight just how fragile the situation has become:
1. Iran's Missile Fuel Shipments
Iran has reportedly ordered thousands of tons of ammonium perchlorate from China, a key ingredient for producing solid-fueled ballistic missiles, aiming to reinforce its military capabilities. According to The Wall Street Journal, the materials, which could be used to manufacture up to 800 missiles, are expected to be delivered in the coming months, and some may be distributed to Iranian-aligned militias, including the Houthis in Yemen. The procurement appears to be part of Iran's strategy to strengthen its regional alliances and missile arsenal as it resists limiting its missile development in nuclear talks.
2. Israel Ready to Strike
Israel is actively preparing for a possible strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, contingent on the outcome of ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted extensive military drills simulating a multi-day offensive against Iranian targets, underscoring the seriousness of these preparations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized Israel's right to defend itself and declared that any agreement must block Iran from enriching uranium. While Trump recently cautioned Netanyahu that a strike would be "inappropriate" while diplomacy continues—saying the sides are "very close to a solution"—he has also left open the possibility of supporting action if talks collapse.
3. Iran-Linked Militias
Tensions between Israel and Iran are rising through proxy forces in the region. On Wednesday, Israel launched rare airstrikes in Syria—its first in nearly a month—after two projectiles were fired from Syrian territory. Israel blamed Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, while Damascus denied aggression and reported heavy losses. According to a report by Reuters, a Syrian official suggested Iran-backed militias in the country's Quneitra region may be provoking retaliation to destabilize the area. Around the same time, Yemen's Houthis launched a ballistic missile at Jaffa in support of Palestinians. This growing coordination among Iranian-linked militias signals a dangerous expansion of the conflict beyond the core Iran-Israel axis.
Quote:Israel's government has ordered the country's military to intercept the humanitarian ship carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists to Gaza and stop it from reaching the embattled territory.
"I have instructed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act so that the Madleen does not reach Gaza, and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end," Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement published on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, referring to the vessel carrying the Swedish activist.
Why It Matters
Israel's 11-week blockade of aid into Gaza was condemned by activists, NGOs and even some of the country's closest allies, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government repeatedly ignored calls to ensure Palestinians in the occupied territory receive enough food and humanitarian assistance to avoid starvation.
While Israel has recently allowed aid into Gaza under the management of U.S. contractors, the delivery of lifesaving essentials to the Palestinian population has been botched, with several people being killed by Israeli gunfire in a series of incidents at an aid distribution center.
The U.N.'s humanitarian chief said that the aid allowed into the Gaza Strip now by Israel was just "a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed."
Thunberg, possibly the most prominent climate activist in the world, is onboard the Madleen flotilla together with 15 other people to bring aid to Gaza directly, picking up where she says Western governments are failing. But the success of the humanitarian aid ship's mission is in doubt as the Israeli government shows a strong hostility to the activists' plan.
What To Know
According to the latest update provided by the crew aboard the ship, Thunberg and her fellow activists were getting closer to Gaza and had reached Egypt on Saturday after having left from Catania, Italy, a week ago.
The activists, who come from several countries across Europe and the world, expect to broadcast their arrest once they reach Gaza. They may not make it that far, based on Katz's statement.
Quote:Asenior Iranian official has announced that Tehran is drafting a counter-proposal to the latest U.S. offer on its nuclear program, rejecting the American plan as insufficient and "clumsy."
The statement came as President Donald Trump warned time is running out for Iran to make a decision regarding its nuclear ambitions, revealing that Russian President Vladimir Putin may join the negotiations.
Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV that the U.S. offer fails to address a primary demand, which is the lifting of sanctions.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and Iran's foreign ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The renewed push on negotiations underscores the urgency. While the U.S. seeks to curb Iran's uranium enrichment, Tehran is refusing to scale back without economic concessions. With Russia possibly entering the fray, the geopolitical stakes are rising in a region already mired in instability. Trump's framing of Iran's delay as deliberate "slow walking" adds new pressure to a rapidly narrowing diplomatic window. Iran's insistence on its "natural rights" could complicate efforts to revive a negotiated solution.
What to Know
Ali Shamkhani criticized the U.S. proposal as poorly constructed and lacking critical elements. He said Iran was already working on a new response. "After receiving the American proposal regarding the Iranian nuclear program, we are now preparing our new counter-proposal," he stated. Shamkhani underscored that the absence of sanctions relief rendered the U.S. plan unacceptable. He called the omission a "fundamental" failure and reaffirmed Iran's position that it would never give up uranium enrichment, a key component of its nuclear program.
'Time Running Out'
Meanwhile, Trump criticized Tehran for what he described as deliberate stalling. Writing on social media, he said, "It is my opinion that Iran has been slow walking their decision on this very important matter. We will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time." Trump also revealed that Putin could play a role in negotiations over Iran's nuclear ambitions, following an extended phone call between the two leaders. "We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly," Trump stated.
Quote:Iran is importing thousands of tons of missile fuel materials from China as it works to rebuild its diminished military capabilities following Israeli strikes and the weakening of its regional proxies, according to a new report.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Tehran has arranged for a shipment that includes ammonium perchlorate—used in solid-fuel ballistic missiles—which could enable the production of up to 800 missiles.
Newsweek has reached out to Iran and China's foreign ministries for comment.
Why It Matters
The shipment underscores Iran's push to restore its missile capabilities after Israeli strikes damaged key facilities and weakened its regional influence. It also reflects deepening ties with China as both face mounting U.S. pressure.
The development comes as nuclear diplomacy remains fragile: while the Trump administration has signaled openness to an agreement, it demands limits on Iran's regional and nuclear activities. Tehran seeks sanctions relief and security assurances.
What to Know
The shipment from China includes thousands of tons of ammonium perchlorate, a vital chemical oxidizer for producing solid-fuel ballistic missiles. This volume could enable the manufacture of up to 800 missiles and is expected to arrive in phases over the coming months, although Iran has not officially confirmed the deal. In response to Iran's expanding missile program, the U.S. recently sanctioned multiple individuals and entities in both Iran and China involved in procuring missile propellant materials.
Iran's Military Setbacks
The missile fuel shipments come as Iran seeks to recover from Israeli strikes that targeted its missile production facilities and proxy forces across Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. These Israeli attacks were carried out in response to Iranian missile and drone assaults on Israeli targets, marking a cycle of escalating retaliation between the two countries. Despite temporary setbacks to Tehran's regional influence and military capabilities, the latest procurement signals Iran's determination to rebuild its strength amid ongoing tensions.
Port Explosion
An earlier shipment of missile fuel materials from China was linked to a devastating explosion at a major port in southern Iran, killing at least 70 people and injuring hundreds more. While Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed the shipment, state media reported that the blast was caused by accidental mishandling of highly volatile materials.
Quote:Turkey's ambitious naval expansion is taking shape as new details emerged about its first homegrown aircraft carrier, Mugem, now under construction in Istanbul.
With design and system integration work ongoing, priority will be given to homegrown aircraft, including unmanned combat drones and light jets, according to statements by Captain Hakan Uçar, director of the Turkish Navy's Design Project Office, reported by Jane's OSINT on Friday.
Newsweek has reached out to Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries, overseeing defense projects, for comment.
Why It Matters
Turkey's defense industrial growth signals Ankara's drive to assert greater strategic autonomy and its importance both within NATO and for the Middle East under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Turkey's expanding naval and air defense capabilities—including a fifth-generation fighter jet —could also change global defense industry dynamics.
What To Know
About 285 meters long and 72 meters wide, Mugem will weigh arounds 60,000 tons and should carry up to 50 aircraft, with two runways for takeoff and one for landing, according to a description on the Turkish government's Directorate of Communications' website.
The ship will have a flight deck built for aircraft to take off from a short runway and land safely, known as the STOBAR system, according to Jane's OSINT, a prominent open-source intelligence and defense analysis provider.
Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, lacks a full-sized traditional aircraft carrier; its largest ship, the amphibious assault vessel TCG Anadolu, serves mainly as a drone carrier but has limited capabilities compared to a true carrier.
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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
