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Yesterday, 07:54 AM
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Quote:A woman who police said went to President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach and told U.S. Secret Service agents that she had "an urgent message" for the president has been arrested on vehicle-related charges.
Caroline Shaw, 49, of Orlando was taken into custody July 7 on charges of driving with a suspended license and failure to register a vehicle, according to court records.
Trump was in Washington, D.C., when Shaw reportedly drove her gray Mercedes van to the south gate of Mar-a-Lago just before 10 p.m. July 7.
Secret Service agents told Palm Beach Police who responded to the scene that Shaw parked her van on Southern Boulevard and walked to the estate's south gate, where she said she wanted to speak with Trump to deliver an urgent message, according to an arrest report.
Shaw told agents there were firearms in her van, and the arrest report said a handgun was seized during Shaw's arrest.
Shaw's Florida driver's license was suspended April 23, 2023, for unpaid traffic tickets, and her vehicle's registration expired in December of 2021, the arrest report said.
Shaw remained at the Palm Beach County Jail on July 8 on a $2,000 bond, jail records show. She pleaded not guilty in her first appearance July 8 before Palm Beach County Judge Donald Hafele, who ordered Shaw to have no contact with Trump, Mar-a-Lago, the area around Mar-a-Lago or any of Trump's properties, according to court records.
Quote:EXCLUSIVE: Former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey are under criminal investigation for potential wrongdoing related to the Trump–Russia probe, including allegedly making false statements to Congress, Justice Department sources told Fox News Digital.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred evidence of wrongdoing by Brennan to FBI Director Kash Patel for potential prosecution, DOJ sources told Fox News Digital.
The sources said that the referral was received and told Fox News Digital that a criminal investigation into Brennan was opened and is underway. DOJ sources declined to provide further details. It is unclear, at this point, if the investigation spans beyond his alleged false statements to Congress.
As for Comey, DOJ sources told Fox News Digital that an investigation into the former director is underway, but could not share details of what specifically is being probed.
The full scope of the criminal investigations into Brennan and Comey is unclear, but two sources described the FBI's view of the duo's interactions as a "conspiracy," which could open up a wide range of potential prosecutorial options.
The FBI and CIA declined to comment.
Neither Brennan nor Comey immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The Brennan investigation comes after Ratcliffe last week declassified a "lessons learned" review of the creation of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA). The 2017 ICA alleged Russia sought to influence the 2016 presidential election to help then-candidate Donald Trump. But the review found that the process of the ICA's creation was rushed with "procedural anomalies," and that officials diverted from intelligence standards.
It also determined that the "decision by agency heads to include the Steele Dossier in the ICA ran counter to fundamental tradecraft principles and ultimately undermined the credibility of a key judgment."
The dossier — an anti-Trump document filled with unverified and wholly inaccurate claims that was commissioned by Fusion GPS and paid for by Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign and the DNC — has been widely discredited. Last week's review marks the first time career CIA officials have acknowledged politicization of the process by which the ICA was written, particularly by Obama-era political appointees.
Records declassified as part of that review further revealed that Brennan did, in fact, push for the dossier to be included in the 2017 ICA.
Brennan testified to the House Judiciary Committee in May 2023, however, that he did not believe the dossier should be included in that intelligence product.
Quote:Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a sweeping overhaul of the military's drone strategy, calling for accelerated modernization, expanded production and the elimination of regulations that could hinder innovation, according to a video released by the Pentagon Thursday afternoon.
Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon by email on Thursday afternoon for comment.
Why It Matters
Various militaries have increasingly relied on drones for modern warfare. Former President Barack Obama increased the number of drone strikes tenfold during his administration compared to those ordered by his predecessor, President George W. Bush.
The Russia-Ukraine war has also shown the greater importance modern militaries have placed on drone warfare as a means of equalizing disparities in fighting power: The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) earlier this year reported that an estimated 100 different types of drones have been used in Ukraine "ranging from toy-sized systems to larger models with wingspans of almost 20 meters."
Iran has also developed stronger ties with Russia by providing the latter with drones, which have become a major export for the Mideast nation.
What To Know
Under the directives in a new Pentagon memo, commanders across all branches of the armed forces will have the authority to procure and test drones independently. Fox News first published a copy of the memo, which discussed the need to keep pace as "global military drone production skyrocketed" over recent years.
The policy also aims to slash red tape, allowing for expedited training and testing processes. Hegseth also instructed the military to classify small drones as "consumable assets" rather than long-term, durable equipment.
Quote:Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a blistering dissent on Tuesday after the court cleared the way for the Trump administration to implement mass layoffs across the federal bureaucracy while litigation over the issue continues playing out.
The Context
The High Court ruled 8-1 to stay a lower court decision that temporarily blocked the administration from laying off employees across 19 government agencies. The plaintiffs in the case sued the Trump administration for trying to impose the layoffs and restructuring without congressional approval.
Tuesday's decision is the latest in a series of Supreme Court rulings siding with the Trump administration in emergency cases since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
What To Know
In a scathing 15-page dissent, Jackson, one of the court's three liberal justices, accused her colleagues of allowing Trump to take a "wrecking ball" to the federal bureaucracy.
"Given the fact-based nature of the issue in this case and the many serious harms that result from allowing the President to dramatically reconfigure the Federal Government, it was eminently reasonable for the District Court to maintain the status quo while the courts evaluate the lawfulness of the President's executive action," Jackson wrote.
"At bottom, this case is about whether that action amounts to a structural overhaul that usurps Congress's policymaking prerogatives—and it is hard to imagine deciding that question in any meaningful way after those changes have happened," she added. "Yet, for some reason, this Court sees fit to step in now and release the President's wrecking ball at the outset of this litigation."
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email on Tuesday.
The court's majority said in its unsigned order that it was not commenting on the legality of the Trump administration's plans but merely allowing them to be implemented while the lawsuit makes its way through the lower courts.
Jackson's two liberal colleagues, Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, joined the court's six conservatives in the majority.
Quote:On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the White House has "tremendous power" to run U.S. cities "when we have to" in response to a question about New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump responded to a question about New York City's mayoral election by criticizing progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani and suggesting the federal government has broad authority to step in when cities falter.
At the same cabinet meeting, Trump suggested that his team is already weighing a plan to assume direct control over Washington, D.C., citing dissatisfaction with local governance.
"We could run D.C. I mean, we're looking at D.C.," he said, as quoted by Bloomberg. "We're thinking about doing it, to be honest with you. We want a capital that's run flawlessly."
Why It Matters
The comments come as the administration debates how far it can go to exert control over cities struggling with crime, homelessness and political infighting. The prospect of federal intervention in D.C., which has operated under limited home rule since 1973, would mark a dramatic departure from decades of precedent.
Under the Home Rule Act, the District maintains its own local government, but Congress retains ultimate authority and can overrule local laws. Trump, however, framed his remarks as a potential solution to rising crime rates and what he described as a failure of local leadership.
What to Know
Trump, who has repeatedly vowed that the U.S. would "never be a socialist country," warned that New York could be irreparably damaged if "a communist gets elected" as mayor. "New York City will work properly. We're going to bring New York back," he said.
He called Zohran Mamdani, a progressive candidate, a "disaster" who had sold New Yorkers a "good line of bulls***" and dismissed Republican Curtis Sliwa as someone who "runs every four years," while noting that Democrat Eric Adams is running as an independent this cycle.
Quote:White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has called President Trump’s falling-out with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk “very troublesome” but ultimately a “little hiccup” for the administration on the latest episode of “Pod Force One,” out Wednesday.
Wiles agreed with Post columnist Miranda Devine’s contention that the South Africa-born billionaire “almost … had a sort of fatherly fixation with Donald Trump that I guess inevitably was going to blow up at some point.”
“The president was very, very kind to him, and Elon had so much to offer us,” Wiles responded. “He knew things we didn’t know. He knew people and technologies that we didn’t know. It was a great thing when it was a great thing, and had a very, I think, a very troublesome ending.”
Near the end of Musk’s time as a special government employee, he dropped some not-so-subtle hints that he was perturbed and “disappointed” by the deficit impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Trump signed into law last week.
At the end of May, Trump had given Musk a chummy Oval Office send-off, predicting that the world’s richest man “will always be with us, helping all the way.”
But days later, Musk went nuclear and savaged Trump’s marquee agenda package as “pork-filled” and a “disgusting abomination,” before turning against the president in a dramatic social media storm.
After a brief pause in hostilities, Musk, 54, announced plans to form an America Party to contest next year’s midterm elections and alter the balance of power in Washington. Trump, 79, responded by calling his former “first buddy” a “train wreck” and dismissing his idea of forming a third party as “ridiculous.”
“I don’t understand it. I don’t know,” Wiles said when asked why Trump and Musk fell out. “I enjoyed working with Elon. I think he’s a fascinating person and sees the world differently. And I think that’s probably what the president saw, too. [He’s] just a little bit different than the average Joe, but certainly [it] came to not a good ending.”
Quote:President Donald Trump on Wednesday responded to comments made by an ally of Iran's supreme leader suggesting that Iran could assassinate him with a drone, while warning that Trump can no longer "sunbathe" peacefully while at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Newsweek has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment via email on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Mohammad-Javad Larijani, adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned the U.S. president that a small Iranian drone could target and strike the president, as reported by London-based outlet Iran International.
Larijani's remarks, even if intended as a joke, add to speculation over possible retaliation by the Islamic Republic against the U.S. for its attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities in June.
The U.S. and Iran have had a strained, distrusting relationship spanning more than four decades. During Trump's first administration, tensions were notably high after Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, and the U.S. killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, leader of the Quds Force.
What To Know
On Wednesday, Larijani said on Iranian television, as reported by Iran International, "Trump has done something so that he can no longer sunbathe in Mar-a-Lago."
He continued, "As he lies there with his stomach to the sun, a small drone might hit him in the navel. It's very simple, Iran International reported. The remarks were made in a lighthearted manner during a discussion about the merits of Iranian military technology compared with America's.
Iran's drone technology has played a key role in Russia's war on Ukraine, with its Shahed devices devastating Ukraine's infrastructure.
Later on Wednesday, Fox News' Peter Doocy asked Trump if he would classify the comments as a threat.
"Yeah, I guess it's a threat. I'm not sure it's a threat, actually, but perhaps it is," Trump responded.
Doocy also asked Trump, "When was the last time you went sunbathing?" to which the president said, "It's been a long time. Maybe I was around 7 or so. I'm not too big into it."
Quote:President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports on Wednesday, citing his support for Brazil's former far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing charges for an alleged coup attempt.
The Context
Trump has a long and cozy relationship with Bolsonaro, who is on trial before Brazil's Supreme Federal Court related to his efforts to overturn his 2022 electoral loss to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
His announcement on Wednesday also came after a public war of words with Lula, who earlier this week called Trump an unwanted "emperor" after the U.S. president threatened to levy an additional 10 percent tariff on the BRICS group of developing countries.
"The world has changed," Lula told reporters while addressing Trump's tariff threat. "We don't want an emperor."
He added: "We are sovereign nations. If he thinks he can impose tariffs, other countries have the right to impose tariffs, too."
What To Know
In his letter on Wednesday, Trump said that "the way Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro...is an international disgrace."
"In addition, we have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Brazil, and have concluded that we must move away from the longstanding, and very unfair trade relationship engendered by Brazil's Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal," Trump said.
He cited "unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States" as part of the reasoning for his 50% tariff rate. But as of last year, the U.S. had a goods trade surplus of $7.4 billion with Brazil.
Quote:President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday night that the United States will impose a 50 percent tariff on copper, effective August 1.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that he came to the decision after a "robust NATIONAL SECURITY ASSESSMENT."
The Context
The president made a number of tariff-related announcements this week, rekindling his earlier threats against nations that are both U.S. allies and adversaries, accusing them of treating America unfairly.
He said on Wednesday that the U.S. will impose a 50 percent tariff rate on Brazilian imports. Trump cited a U.S. trade deficit as part of the reason, even though the U.S. had a $7.4 billion goods trade surplus with Brazil as of last year.
He also mentioned former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in his tariff announcement, suggesting that his decision to impose the levies was based in part on his personal relationship with Bolsonaro.
Trump also sent letters to the leaders of at least 22 countries this week, threatening to slap a 50 percent tariff on their exports unless they negotiate more favorable trade deals with the U.S.
What To Know
"Copper is necessary for Semiconductors, Aircraft, Ships, Ammunition, Data Centers, Lithium-ion Batteries, Radar Systems, Missile Defense Systems, and even, Hypersonic Weapons, of which we are building many," the president wrote when announcing his latest tariff.
He added: "Copper is the second most used material by the Department of Defense! Why did our foolish (and SLEEPY!) 'Leaders' decimate this important Industry? This 50% TARIFF will reverse the Biden Administration's thoughtless behavior, and stupidity. America will, once again, build a DOMINANT Copper Industry. THIS IS, AFTER ALL, OUR GOLDEN AGE!"
Trump's announcement on Wednesday came after he said at a televised Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that a new tariff on copper was on the horizon, though the timeline was unclear.
"Today, we're doing copper," he said at the meeting, adding that he believed the rate would be 50 percent.
Copper is the third most-consumed metal, after iron and aluminum. The U.S. imported $17 billion worth of copper last year, according to the Department of Commerce. Trump announced a Section 232 investigation into copper in February, invoking a law that allows the president to impose higher tariffs on national security grounds.
Quote:The Trump administration is rejecting claims made by Palestinian-American activist Mahmoud Khalil, who is seeking $20 million in damages from the federal government for what he describes as a politically motivated attempt to silence him.
In a newly filed civil claim, Khalil, now free on bail and back home in New York, accuses the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the State Department of false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and defamation—including being wrongly branded an antisemite—after his arrest and detention in March.
In response to the filing, the Department of Homeland Security pushed back aggressively.
"Khalil's claim is absurd," DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in an emailed statement to the Associated Press. She accused Khalil of engaging in "hateful behavior and rhetoric" that DHS says threatened Jewish students.
The State Department, meanwhile, said its actions regarding Khalil were lawful and appropriate.
Newsweek has reached out to Khalil's legal representatives via email on Thursday afternoon for comment.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration publicly hailed Khalil's arrest, vowing to deport him along with others involved in protests against Israel that it labeled as "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity."
Khalil worked as a mediator between pro-Palestinian protesters and Columbia University leadership following the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in October 2023. The Trump administration said his actions went against U.S. foreign policy, using this as grounds to detain him and seek his deportation.
His case marked the beginning of a nationwide sweep by ICE targeting pro-Palestinian students with visas and green cards, using the same foreign policy argument outlined by the Secretary of State, that their actions were in support of Hamas and antisemitic.
Quote:Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said Tuesday that there will be "no amnesty" for undocumented immigrant farmworkers when it comes to mass deportations.
Speaking at a briefing on United States farmland security, which included a plan to prevent foreign countries from owning farms, Rollins said she knew there had been "a lot of noise" around migrant farm labor in recent days, and that President Donald Trump was clear in his views.
"There will be no amnesty," she said. "The mass deportations continue, but in a strategic and intentional way as we move the workforce toward more automation and toward a 100 percent American workforce."
Rollins said that with 34 million able-bodied people on Medicaid, "we should be able to do [this] fairly quickly."
Why It Matters
The White House has given mixed messages on farm laborers in recent weeks, with Trump twice saying he understood concerns from farmers around the potential loss of thousands of migrant workers.
Industry representatives and policy analysts have been warning since mid-2024 that mass deportations could drastically disrupt the U.S. farming industry.
What To Know
Rollins, speaking alongside other Trump Cabinet members about farm security and protecting them from foreign involvement, was asked about concerns regarding immigrant farm workers and the industry's ability to continue without them.
The secretary reiterated that there would be no amnesty for those in the U.S. illegally, whether they worked on farms or not, but that there was understanding that removals needed to be carried out strategically to avoid disrupting the country's food supply.
While Rollins said she had spoken with Trump at least twice on this issue. The president had said on June 20 that he wanted to find a solution for "reputable farmers" so that they could take responsibility for the immigrant workers in their charge.
So far, a new policy has not been announced, but Republican Representative Andy Harris has called for expanding visas to provide a more secure workforce.
Recent reports have suggested crops across the country have been left to rot, with migrant workers either detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or afraid to head to work because of potential arrest.
Quote:The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration issued new guidance today aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from accessing federally funded workforce development programs and grants.
Under the updated policy, all recipients of funding through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and similar programs must confirm participants have valid work authorization before offering services. The new directive overturns previous guidance from the Biden Administration.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has been clear that it wants to prevent immigrants without legal status from gaining access to federal and state-level benefits, from health care to work assistance programs like the one targeted Thursday.
While illegal immigrants can access very few federal programs anyway, the new rules will likely prevent more from accessing taxpayer funded benefits.
What To Know
The Department of Labor (DOL) said Thursday that it was changing the rules in line with President Donald Trump's executive order "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders," aimed at limiting perceived benefits for those who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
Anyone applying for grants under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act will now have to verify work authorization before providing services. DOL staff administering the programs will have to keep documentation updated to ensure participants are legally allowed to work in the U.S.
The WIOA's aim, per government documents on the change, is to prepare job seekers and workers for success in the labor market, whether citizens, permanent residents, or legal visa holders. This is through help while searching for a job, through to work-based learning opportunities.
Checking work authorization is something all employers are meant to do under U.S. immigration law, with the system known as E-Verify. When taking a new job, employees often have to fill out an I-9 form that workplaces use to verify legal status with the government.
Quote:Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) gave an update after the Trump administration moved this week to end over 25 years of protections for immigrants from Nicaragua and Honduras.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the federal agency signaled that the decision would not be walked back.
Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.
Why It Matters
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, his administration has moved swiftly to roll back several Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations. The policy shift has drawn sharp criticism from immigration advocacy groups, who warn that ending these protections could result in deportations to countries that could be unsafe.
It's part of a wider push by the president to carry out mass deportations of immigrants.
What To Know
A foreign country may be designated by the secretary of Homeland Security for TPS due to "conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately," a U.S. government website states.
ICE issued a reminder on social media that TPS is not intended to be a permanent designation.
"It should be obvious, but Temporary Protected Status is a TEMPORARY designation," a post on X on Wednesday said. "The Secretary of Homeland Security is tasked with designating — and UN-designating — a foreign country for TPS."
Quote:Former White House chief strategist and longtime MAGA loyalist Steve Bannon has called on President Donald Trump to appoint a special prosecutor to release all government files related to the disgraced financier and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Why It Matters
Bannon is part of the growing chorus of MAGA supporters who are speaking out against the Department of Justice and the FBI after the DOJ put out a memo saying Epstein died by suicide in 2019 in his Manhattan jail cell, confirming the findings of federal and local investigators.
The memo infuriated some of Trump's MAGA base, which has spent years peddling conspiracy theories about the government covering up an extensive list of powerful pedophiles to protect wealthy politicians and businesspeople.
Though Bannon and other high-profile MAGA followers have spared the president their ire, they've taken aim at the DOJ and FBI, led by the longtime Trump loyalists Pam Bondi and Kash Patel, respectively.
What To Know
Bannon this week said the president should go around Bondi, Patel and other senior DOJ and FBI leaders to release the full and unredacted Epstein documents.
"They have to go to the court and demand and unseal the sealed evidence in Epstein," Bannon said on his "War Room" podcast on Thursday. "It starts there."
"Bundle everything together. You've got sealed and unsealed and release it all," Bannon added. "Or, which I called for yesterday, appoint a special prosecutor—he should appoint a special prosecutor, a special counsel now for the 2020 election and everything after that and include Russiagate and all this. You have to do that. That should be done immediately."
"Russiagate" is a reference to the FBI's investigation into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign conspired with Moscow to swing the election in his favor.
Quote:The Trump administration has sued California over its animal cruelty laws, saying the state's regulation of chicken farms has led to high egg prices across the country.
Lowering the cost of eggs, which spiked in recent years as an avian flu outbreak ravaged American flocks, was one of President Donald Trump's key campaign promises in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
But almost six months into his second mandate, his administration has struggled to keep the cost of the staple down. The administration now says California's regulations create "unnecessary red tape" in the production of eggs and are responsible for stubbornly high prices.
The lawsuit is the latest flash point in the ongoing battle between the U.S. president and the Democratic-led state, which has clashed with the Trump administration over its aggressive immigration policies and transgender rights.
"Trump's back to his favorite hobby: blaming California for literally everything," the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X, formerly Twitter, about the lawsuit. "Next up: @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom caused the fall of Rome and sent the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs!"
What Is the Lawsuit About?
The lawsuit, which the Trump administration filed in Los Angeles federal court, blamed the Golden State's animal cruelty laws—widely regarded as among the strictest and most progressive in the nation—for creating the conditions that led to the current spike in egg prices across the country.
The laws, the Trump administration argued, have prevented "farmers across the country from using a number of agricultural production methods which were in widespread use—and which helped keep eggs affordable."
Under Proposition 2, an initiative approved by California voters in 2008 and implemented in 2015, the state forbids farmers from packing chickens together so close that a hen cannot "lie down, stand up, fully extend its limbs, and turn around freely."
Essentially, the state bans the use of chicken battery farms, a method of intensive egg production where hens are stacked in rows and rows of tiny cages, which restrict their natural movements and can cause the animals high levels of stress and frustration.
Proposition 12, an initiative backed by California voters in 2018 and implemented in January 2022, outlawed the use of cages for egg-laying hens, sows and calves raised for veal, giving specific requirements of how much space farmers must give to their animals. Crucially, it also banned the in-state sale of products from caged animals raised out of state.
The Trump administration's lawsuit argued that the federal Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970 should preempt any California state laws related to eggs. This law, the lawsuit says, gives the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services the authority to regulate eggs to protect consumers' health and welfare, and it requires "national uniformity" in egg safety standards.
Quote:A nationwide recall of chocolate products has been issued the highest risk warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Weaver Nut Company, Inc., based in Pennsylvania, announced a voluntary recall for specific lots of its semi-sweet chocolate nonpareils on June 17 due to the possible undeclared presence of milk, a major food allergen.
The FDA subsequently issued a Class 1 risk classification for the recall on July 8.
Why It Matters
A Class I risk classification represents "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death," according to the FDA.
The recall was initiated due to the undeclared presence of milk, one of the nine major food allergens as defined in law. The others are eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame.
The FDA warned that people with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk "run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the impacted products."
Allergic reactions vary in severity from mild symptoms, such as hives and lip swelling, to life-threatening complications, such as anaphylaxis, that may include fatal respiratory problems.
What To Know
The products impacted by the recall include:
Nonpareil, Semi-Sweet Chocolate (Christmas Seeds)—849 cases—item number: 47518—lot numbers: 204206, 204207, 204208, 204209, 204212, 224225
Nonpareils, Semi-Sweet Chocolate (White Seeds)—1760 cases—item number: D2645—lot numbers: 204214-RL, 204214, 204215, 224221, 224222, 224223, 135215, 135216, 135217, 135220, 135221, 145204, 145205-1, 145207-1, 145210-1
The products were distributed to customers throughout the U.S., and sold at various retail and grocery stores.
The issue was identified after a wholesale customer submitted a complaint regarding discrepancies with product specifications, the FDA said in its release.
IRAN
Quote:Iran's nuclear facilities were "severely damaged" in military strikes launched by the United States last month, the country's president has said.
President Masoud Pezeshkian told conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that the U.S. strikes on Iran were "illegal," and that the nation had never intended to develop a nuclear bomb.
President Donald Trump announced on June 21 that the U.S. had conducted successful airstrikes against three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
Pezeshkian added that Iran was ready to resume talks on verifying its nuclear program after it suspended its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following the Israeli and U.S. strikes. He also said that Israel had attempted to assassinate him.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and the Israeli government for comment.
Why It Matters
Pezeshkian's interview offers the clearest snapshot yet into Tehran's thinking following last month's military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites which Trump says were destroyed, following Israel's Operation Rising Lion.
It also raises the possibility that Iran could cooperate with the IAEA although the president's comments that Tehran never wanted to develop a nuclear bomb are likely to be widely dismissed.
Carlson has regularly criticized U.S. foreign policy, and particularly the idea of attacking Iran. Carlson even became embroiled in a high-profile dispute with GOP Senator Ted Cruz prior to the U.S. attacking Iranian sites, during which he accused Cruz of not knowing "anything" about Iran.
What To Know
In a wide-ranging interview released Monday, Pezeshkian reiterated Tehran's rhetoric, vehemently denied by Israel and the U.S, that Iran had never sought to develop a nuclear bomb.
Pezeshkian said Israel's attacks had "torpedoed" negotiations Tehran was undertaking with the U.S. but added that Iran was ready to have its nuclear program supervised.
Quote:Iran has stocks of thousands of missiles and drones secured and ready to use despite Israeli airstrikes and it is prepared to use them against any new attacks, the army said.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Iranian Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The army's announcement of having plentiful stocks of missiles aligns with Iran's threats of severe retaliation if the conflict with Israel reignites and it comes at a time of contuning tension after the Israeli and U.S. attacks on its nuclear facilities. Iran launched missiles and drones during its direct 12-day confrontation with Israel, as well as in a retaliatory attack on an American air base in Qatar. Iran's open threats are another indication that the current ceasefire may be only a pause in a larger conflict.
What To Know
Major General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, a senior military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said several thousand missiles and drones had been stockpiled in fortified locations for rapid use in the event of any act of aggression, according to Press TV.
He said that the army had not used its "full capabilities" in repelling Israeli attacks, noting that major military branches—like the Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force—were not mobilized.
Military commanders have threatened "crushing" responses to renewed Israeli attacks. Israeli strikes caught Iran by surprise, according to Iranian officials interviewed by The New York Times — hitting its nuclear and missile infrastructure and killing key commanders and scientists.
Quote:Afatwa, or religious decree, issued by senior Iranian clerics calling for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump has attracted online funding worth tens of millions of dollars, reports say.
Momentum over such a decree has been growing since Trump's order of U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last month after Israel launched Operation Rising Lion with the goal of destroying the Islamic Republic's ability to make a nuclear bomb.
Why It Matters
Trump faced assassination threats from Iran following his order in 2020 to kill Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq.
After last month's U.S. strikes on Iran, senior cleric Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi issued a fatwa declaring that anyone who threatens Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is "an enemy of God," which was interpreted as a threat against Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Other hard-line clerics in Iran have issued similar edicts.
While not legally enforceable, a fatwa can influence judicial decisions where there are Sharia-based legal systems. The one against Trump has been compared to the order against the author Salman Rushdie, which led to assassination attempts.
What To Know
Iran International, an outlet in London, reported that clerics issued a letter on Monday referring to Trump and Netanyahu as "infidel combatants," an Islamic legal term for a nonbeliever at war with Muslims who deserves death.
According to the outlet, the Iranian website thaar.ir has said it is raising money for the assassination of Trump and has received $40,286,867. Newsweek has not confirmed the authenticity of this figure.
Iran International said the fatwa calling for the killing of Trump and Netanyahu had gained support from about 10 other clerics and attracted fundraising online.
It reported that Mansour Emami, another cleric in Iran's West Azerbaijan Province, announced a reward of 100 billion tomans ($1.14 million) for anyone who killed Trump.
The cleric Alireza Panahian called on Muslims to kill Trump and Netanyahu in retaliation for their threats on Khamenei. Shirazi and Ayatollah Hossein Noori Hamedani previously declared separate fatwas.
Two of those clerics are on the website thaar.ri. According to a translation, the site said it was campaigning against "U.S. state terrorism" and that the funds it raised would be received by those "who carry out the sentence of justice."
Quote:An Iranian cleric has offered a reward "to anyone who brings the head of Trump," according to an exiled Iranian outlet, adding to the calls from several Iranian figures and state-aligned media for the president's assassination.
Mansour Emami, a state-appointed official from the West Azerbaijan province of northwestern Iran, offered a substantial reward for Trump's assassination, according to the U.K.-based Iranian International opposition outlet and the state-run Hawzah news agency. Newsweek has been unable to independently verify these reports.
Newsweek has contacted Iran's foreign ministry for comment via email on Thursday.
In recent weeks, at least one high-profile Iranian official has issued a fatwa, or ruling grounded in Islamic law, against the Republican and also against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The fatwa, publicized by one of the country's most senior clerics, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, was downplayed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a conversation with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson earlier this month, who said the order had "nothing to do with the Iranian government or the Supreme Leader," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The spike in violence between Israel and Iran, now referred to by many as the "12 day war," flared last month when Israel launched attacks on Iran's nuclear and military sites. Tehran then launched its own aerial assaults on Israel.
Trump greenlit U.S. strikes on three of Iran's nuclear sites, which the president has since described as having "obliterated" Tehran's nuclear program. Different assessments say the sites sustained varying degrees to damage.
The U.S., and many of America's allies, have said it is unacceptable for Iran to have nuclear weapons. While Tehran has insisted its program is peaceful, international investigators have found highly enriched uranium close to the level needed for a weapon, and Iranian officials have suspended their cooperation with the international nuclear watchdog.
Iran said on Tuesday it had not requested talks with the U.S. on nuclear agreements after Trump indicated Tehran was seeking a new accord, and that negotiations were "scheduled."
The Department of Homeland Security last month said Iran "has a long-standing commitment to target U.S. Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020." Iranian commander Major General Qasem Soleimani was assassinated at the start of 2020 during a drone strike ordered by Trump during his first term in office.
Quote:An ally of the Iranian Supreme Leader joked that Iran could assassinate President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
"Trump can no longer sunbathe in Mar-a-Lago, because while he's lying down, a micro-drone might target and strike him right in the navel," said Mohammad-Javad Larijani, a regime figure and adviser to Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Larijani laughed as he made the remark on Iranian television, which was broadcast on Wednesday, July 9, as part of a discussion about the country's military technology.
Why It Matters
Larijani's comments were reported by London-based network Iran International, which noted they follow the appearance of online platform Blood Pact that is raising funds for "retribution against those who mock and threaten the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei."
Larijani's remarks, even if intended as a joke, will add to speculation over possible retaliation by the Islamic Republic against the U.S. for its attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities in June.
What To Know
Iran's drone technology has played a key role in Russia's war on Ukraine, with its Shahed devices devastating the country's infrastructure.
Larijani said a drone might hit Trump in the navel, in what appeared to be a light-hearted remark during a discussion about the merits of Iranian military technology compared with the U.S. He added that "of course, we fight like men" suggesting that Iran would not do something like that.
When contacted for comment, a spokesman for the United States Secret Service (USSS) said it could not comment on specific protective intelligence matters.
"We operate in a heightened and very dynamic threat environment and the safety and security of the President and all of our protectees remains our highest priority," the statement added.
Trump has been a target for assassination threats following his order in 2020 to kill Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) general Qassem Soleimani in Iraq, with U.S. law enforcement accusing the IRGC of organizing a plot to kill Trump.
In January 2022, Khamenei's official website published a video portraying Trump playing golf while a four-wheeled robot and drone seek to target him.
Quote:Iran's defense minister warned that the country's armed forces are fully prepared to deliver a "harsh" and "regret-inducing" response to any future Israeli or Western "adventurism," Iranian media reported.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and the Israeli prime minister's office.
Why It Matters
Iran's military threats highlighting fears of renewed escalation as tensions remain high over its nuclear program following Israeli and U.S. strikes in a 12-day conflict and with little sign of renewed diplomacy despite optimism voiced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
What To Know
Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh said the Armed Forces were fully prepared to deliver a harsh response to any further reckless action by Israel or its Western backers, according to the semi-state ISNA news agency
He said the Israeli attack at a time of ongoing talks with the U.S. and Europe was proof of what he called the "collective West's untrustworthiness," in separate phone calls with his Venezuelan and Armenian counterparts, ISNA added.
The Iranian army previously warned of having missile stockpiles to be used in retaliatory attacks. Iran has suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and said it will pursue nuclear enrichment for civilian purposes. It denies seeking nuclear weapons despite enriching uranium close to the level needed to build them.
During the conflict, Israel disrupted parts of Iran's air defense network, while the U.S. deployed B-2 stealth bombers to attack targets inside Iram.
Quote:Iran will not cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) unless it abandons what President Masoud Pezeshkian called double standards in its handling of the country's nuclear file and warned again of a "more decisive response" if it comes under attack again.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and the IAEA for comment.
Why It Matters
The statement is a further sign of defiance following Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites — at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Tehran has formally suspended cooperation with the IAEA, prompting the withdrawal of international inspectors.
With diplomatic talks stalled, Western powers warn that monitoring Iran's nuclear activities will become increasingly difficult and have threatened further sanctions. The tensions unfold amid a fragile ceasefire, with Iran accusing Israel of sabotaging earlier progress with the U.S.
What To Know
Iran's cooperation with the IAEA depended on transparency, and "biased and unprofessional conduct" by the agency led to suspension of cooperation, Pezeshkian told European Council President Antonio Costa in a phone call, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
"Pezeshkian said the Islamic Republic remains committed to constructive engagement, regional peace, and global stability," IRNA said. "He also warned that any further acts of aggression against Iran would be met with an even more decisive response."
The IAEA had assessed that Iran has enriched uranium close to bomb-grade levels, although Iran says its program is for civilian purposes only. The IAEA's recent reports said Iran had failed to comply with its nuclear safeguards obligations and had hidden undeclared nuclear activities, indicating this could trigger renewed UN sanctions.
The U.S. issued new sanctions on Iran this week. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned Europe will impose "dramatic sanctions" within weeks if Iran doesn't clarify its nuclear plans, The Guardian reported.
IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi has expressed concerns over the unknown location of nearly 900 pounds of potentially enriched uranium.
Quote:Asweeping new report from the UK Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) warns that Iran has dramatically increased its efforts to intimidate, kidnap, or kill individuals on British soil.
The committee found that at least 15 such plots have been uncovered since the start of 2022, targeting dissidents, Israeli interests, and others opposed to the Iranian regime.
The ISC said the British government focused too narrowly on Iran's nuclear program while neglecting other aggressive state behaviors, including cyberattacks, espionage, and assassination attempts—patterns that closely mirror similar threats seen in the United States.
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The report's findings reinforce growing transatlantic concerns that Iran is expanding an alleged campaign of repression far beyond its borders. The UK, a NATO ally and key partner of Washington, now believes it is on the front line of a global campaign. It also points to further alignment on Iran between Washington and London.
What to Know
According to the ISC, Iran's campaign against regime opponents in Britain has "significantly increased in pace and in number" since early 2022. These plots primarily target Iranian dissidents but also extend to Israeli-linked individuals. The UK's Homeland Security Group said the level of physical threat from Iran is now the highest the country faces from Tehran—on par with threats posed by Russia.
The report describes Iran's intelligence services as "ferociously well-resourced" and capable of operating across a wide range of threats. Tehran, the committee warns, has a "high appetite for risk" and is willing to engage in assassination and intimidation tactics against targets in the UK.
HOUTHIS
Quote:The Iran-backed Houthis released a new video showing their attack on the Liberian-flagged cargo ship Eternity C which sank in the Red Sea on Wednesday, killing several crew members according to media reports.
The attacks come weeks after a truce agreed with the United States, which had conducted multiple airstrikes against the group in the name of stopping them posing a threat to shipping on one of the world's busiest sea lanes.
The U.S. condemned the attacks on the two civilian cargo vessels. "These attacks demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to freedom of navigation and to regional economic and maritime security," U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Tuesday.
"We will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks," she added.
Why It Matters
The attack, the second in a week, marks a major escalation in Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis have recently threatened to target international vessels they believe are headed to Israel, which it also attacked with missiles.
The escalation threatening international shipping risks could lead to broader regional involvement against the group.
What To Know
In published footage, a man identifying himself as part of the " Yemeni navy forces" is heard urging the ship's captain to evacuate: "Hurry, abandon the ship, how do you copy?" He adds that the crew should contact a rescue vessel for safety.
The ship is heard identifying itself, but no further responses are broadcast before missiles are shown striking the vessel, followed by rising smoke. At least four crew members were reported killed and only seven were rescued, according to The Guardian.
ISRAEL
Quote:Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday night that he's nominating President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The honor was "well-deserved," Netanyahu told Trump.
Why It Matters
Trump has long called himself a master peacemaker and made clear his desire for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Last month, a senior Ukrainian lawmaker who nominated President Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize withdrew it, as peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow slip under the radar and the president keeps his sights fixed on the Middle East.
Following Trump's decision to intervene in Israel's war with Iran by launching strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the U.S. president and Israeli prime minister appear more aligned than ever. Trump also recently made public calls to cancel Netanyahu's Israeli corruption trial.
What to Know
The two leaders, joined by their senior aides, held a dinner in the White House Blue Room to commemorate the operation and discuss advancing a proposed 60-day ceasefire aimed at pausing the conflict in Gaza.
"He's forging peace as we speak in one country, in one region after the other. So, I want to present to you the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize Committee. It's nominating you for the Nobel Peace Prize. It's well-deserved, and you should get it."
Trump has long called himself a master peacemaker and made clear his desire for the Nobel Prize.
Trump, speaking in front of reporters, said the nomination was news to him.
"Coming from you, this is very meaningful," he told the Israeli leader.
Also on Monday, President Trump said he has agreed to a request from Iranian officials to hold talks with the United States, following recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
"We have scheduled Iran talks, and they want to," Trump told reporters. "They want to talk."
Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, who was seated alongside him, added that the meeting could take place soon—possibly within a week.
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the White House for his third visit this year, what was intended as a show of triumph remained overshadowed by Israel's 21-month war against Hamas in Gaza—and ongoing uncertainty over how forcefully President Trump will press for an end to the conflict.
Quote:Israel believes that enriched uranium stored deep underground at Iran's Isfahan nuclear facility—one of three sites targeted in last month's U.S. airstrikes—may still be retrievable, according to a senior Israeli official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity.
"The enriched uranium at Isfahan could potentially be retrieved by Iranians," the official said Thursday. The official cautioned that "reaching it would take a very difficult recovery effort."
The Israeli assessment also holds that Iran's stockpiles were spread across Isfahan, Fordo, and Natanz, and had not been moved before the "Operation Midnight Hammer" strikes, despite some nuclear experts suggesting Tehran may have attempted to relocate them as tensions rose and U.S. involvement appeared imminent.
...
The June 22 strikes, ordered by President Donald Trump, marked a bold U.S. intervention into Israel's "12-day" conflict with Iran, aimed at crippling Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Trump has repeatedly insisted the attacks "obliterated" the sites, declaring them fully destroyed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed that sentiment, calling the facilities "destroyed."
The evolving analyses from Israel, U.S. intelligence agencies, and international observers suggest that while significant damage was indeed inflicted, Iran may yet have the means—or at least the potential—to rebuild.
What To Know
In addition to the Israeli update, two officials from the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which developed the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs specifically for hard-to-reach Iranian targets, said Thursday they have yet to confirm whether the bombs reached the intended depth. These officials also spoke on condition of anonymity, revealing that the agency still awaits post-strike data to evaluate bomb performance.
Early assessments from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency offered a cautious analysis, stating the Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan sites suffered significant—but not total—destruction.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe, defending the U.S. military operation before skeptical lawmakers, asserted that the U.S. eliminated Iran's only metal conversion facility—an essential part of the nuclear process.
Meanwhile, attention has shifted to Isfahan, where U.S. B-2 stealth bombers did not strike, unlike the Fordo and Natanz sites. The Isfahan nuclear site in Iran is known for its role in the conversion of uranium, a key step in the nuclear fuel cycle.
Although B-2s were not used for Isfahan, the Pentagon said a U.S. submarine launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles against targets at the Isfahan site. These missiles were likely aimed at different types of targets within the complex compared to those targeted by the B-2s at Fordo and Natanz.
CHINA
Quote:The Japanese government has authorized its military to use force to bring down unmanned aerial aircraft that enter the country's airspace, a policy change with implications for the Japan Self-Defense Forces' responses to the uptick in Chinese drone activity around its territory.
In late June, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba authorized the shootdown, permitted even in the absence of an immediate threat to life, according to Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper.
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Japan, a key U.S. treaty ally, is evolving its security policies to reflect the changing landscape of modern warfare, in particular the increasingly sophisticated uncrewed platforms developed by neighboring China.
While the approach is unlikely to affect the defense of Japan's main islands, it leaves open the possibility of an armed clash around the disputed Senkaku or Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea, which Tokyo controls and Beijing claims.
What To Know
Under a previous legal framework, Japan's air force pilots were permitted to take "necessary measures" against unmanned aircraft entering Japanese airspace but were not allowed to fire upon drones that did not pose a direct threat to human life.
An expanded interpretation of the policy was first announced in February 2023 but only formally adopted by Ishiba's Cabinet last month, the Sankei Shimbun reported. Jin Matsubara, an independent lawmaker representing a district in Tokyo, received confirmation of the policy shift in response to a written inquiry to the government.
In the fiscal year 2024, which concluded at the end of March, Japan's air force jets were scrambled 704 times to intercept Chinese and Russian aircraft approaching its airspace, according to a Japanese Defense Ministry report.
Last year, 30 Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles were detected operating in Japan's air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, data showed. An ADIZ is a buffer zone that extends beyond sovereign airspace, used to identify nearby civilian and military aircraft.
Quote:China is willing to supply its J-10 fighter aircraft to "friendly countries", its defense ministry said, after reports that Iran was seeking to procure the multi-role fighter jet after Israel's devastating attacks last month raised questions about Iran's aging, largely Russian-supplied, air defenses.
Newsweek reached out to the Iranian Foreign Ministry by email with a request for comment.
Why it Matters
Israel's attacks on Iran, aimed at destroying its nuclear program and top military leadership, were a stark illustration of the shortcomings of Iranian air defenses, which have been largely dependent on Russian systems.
As Iran seeks to bolster its defenses it can look to the apparent success of Chinese air power in the confrontation between India and Pakistan in May, when Chinese fighter aircraft proved themselves in combat, with Pakistani forces claiming to have shot down Indian jets.
Several media outlets have reported that Iranian defense officials are engaged in high-level discussions to procure Chengdu J-10C multirole fighter jets.
An Israeli official has called on China to press Iran to rein in its military ambitions.
What to Know
The spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, commenting on reports that "several countries" were in discussions on the procurement of weapons, including the J-10 aircraft, said China was willing to "share the achievements of its equipment development with friendly countries", the Chinese ministry said in a statement.
The spokesman, Jiang Bin, did not identify Iran or any of the other countries negotiating to buy the J-10 but he made the remarks after multiple media reports that Iran has been in discussions on the procurement of Chinese weapons, including the J-10 fighter jet.
China, itself once heavily reliant on Russian imports, has transitioned to developing its own advanced aircraft—demonstrating growing self-sufficiency and competitiveness that may surpass Russia, experts say.
Countries aiming to acquire advanced fighter jets are increasingly turning to China as it aims to ramp up exports and strategic partnerships, while showcasing its aircraft in military drills.
A recent analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) revealed that Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates were the primary recipients of China's arms sales. The UAE had once eyed American F-35 jets.
Quote:The United States and Japan—a key Washington ally—have received a major boost in missile defense against threats posed by their adversaries, namely China, North Korea and Russia.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese and Russian defense ministries for comment via email. North Korea's embassy in China did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
Why It Matters
China has built a missile arsenal capable of targeting Japan—including U.S. military bases there—as well as long-range, nuclear-armed missiles designed to reach the U.S. mainland, according to the Pentagon, prompting the allies to strengthen their missile defense networks.
Facing a growing threat from North Korea—which has frequently conducted missile tests by firing weapons into waters near Japan—the U.S. has deployed missile interceptors in Alaska and California to defend the mainland against North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Russia, which possesses the world's largest nuclear arsenal, also has missiles capable of targeting the U.S. mainland. Its relations with Japan have deteriorated since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when Japan joined the U.S. and other nations in imposing sanctions on Russia.
What To Know
U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin announced on Monday that it has delivered four AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar antennas to the Japanese Defense Ministry. These will be installed on Japan's under-development destroyer, known as the Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV).
Japan has acquired a pair of ASEVs for its Maritime Self-Defense Force, which are set to be commissioned in fiscal years 2027 and 2028, according to Lockheed Martin. They can engage multiple targets simultaneously with "advanced detection and tracking capabilities."
Each of Japan's 12,000-ton ASEVs—which will be tasked with defending the nation against ballistic missile attacks—is equipped with up to 128 missiles for intercepting various types of enemy missiles, as well as for land-attack missions, according to specialist outlet Naval News.
The shipboard radar installed on the ASEV has a land-based counterpart currently deployed by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency as the Long-Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska, which was initially fielded in December 2021.
On June 23, the LRDR conducted its first flight test tracking a live intercontinental ballistic missile target, during which it successfully "acquired, tracked, and reported missile target data" to support a simulated engagement, according to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
The target was air-launched over the northern Pacific Ocean and flew over 1,200 miles off the southern coast of Alaska. Data reported by the LRDR and the Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) was transmitted to the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system.
Quote:China said Germany got its facts wrong after the NATO member accused the People's Liberation Army of using a laser against one of its aircraft.
Why It Matters
The alleged encounter is the latest in a series of complaints from U.S. allies about unprofessional behavior by Chinese forces that are said to put both sides at risk.
These episodes took place over international waters, including disputed areas where Beijing seeks greater control as it presses forward with its goal of becoming the dominant military power in the Asia-Pacific.
Newsweek has contacted the German Defense Ministry and Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment via email.
What To Know
Germany's Federal Foreign Office said the aircraft in question had been taking part in the European Union's Operation ASPIDES, which seeks to protect international shipping in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf from Houthi attacks.
The aircraft was said to have been targeted by Chinese forces using a laser. The encounter was "unacceptable" and a danger to German personnel, the office said, adding that it had summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest the incident.
According to the German news program Tagesschau, the laser was employed from a Chinese warship as the aircraft approached. The publication Der Spiegel identified the vessel as a frigate.
Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters on Wednesday that Berlin's account was "fully inconsistent with the facts that China knows."
"The Chinese Navy's escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters of Somalia say much about China fulfilling its responsibility as a major country and contributing to the safety of international shipping lanes," the official added.
China called for strengthened communication "in a facts-based and timely way" to avert future misunderstandings or miscalculations.
Quote:U.S. ally the Philippines has confirmed the "possible transfer" of Japanese warships amid China's growing military presence in the contested South China Sea.
Citing a government source, Japanese media reported on Sunday that the defense ministers of Japan and the Philippines discussed the warship export plan during a meeting last month.
Newsweek reached out to Japan's Defense Ministry and the Philippine military for comment via email. China's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
Why It Matters
Both the Philippines and China have overlapping sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, particularly over Scarborough Shoal, which is controlled by Beijing as Huangyan Dao and claimed by Manila as Bajo de Masinloc, leading to frequent standoffs and clashes between their forces.
Facing China's growing and powerful navy and coast guard—both the world's largest by hull count—the Philippines has enhanced its naval power by acquiring newly built warships and second-hand vessels from its allies and partners, including former United States Coast Guard ships.
What To Know
In a statement released on Sunday, the Philippine Navy said it is preparing to inspect Japan's Abukuma-class destroyer escorts following an invitation from Japan's Defense Ministry, as part of discussions on the possible transfer of the ships to the Southeast Asian country.
Earlier in the day, Japanese media reported the possible export of the 2,000-ton Abukuma-class warships, a total of six vessels commissioned between 1989 and 1993, each armed with a 76 mm rapid-fire gun and surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs) for anti-ship missions.
The Philippine Navy said it will send a group of naval experts to conduct what it described as an "in-depth assessment" of the Japanese warships to guide further deliberations on the potential acquisition and its alignment with the country's naval modernization efforts.
Quote:The United States stealth destroyer USS Michael Monsoor, which is set to be upgraded with hypersonic missiles, arrived in Japan following China's recent demonstration of naval power.
"U.S. Navy ships routinely conduct port visits for rest, refuel, replenishment, and repair to sustain our operations at sea and ensure our forces are always ready to respond to any contingency," the U.S. Seventh Fleet Public Affairs told Newsweek.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The Michael Monsoor is one of three Zumwalt-class destroyers that serve in the U.S. Navy, the others being USS Zumwalt and USS Lyndon B. Johnson. It began its Pacific deployment in March, departing Naval Base San Diego, a Newsweek map showed.
The Zumwalt-class warships feature a hull design that reduces radar reflection and makes them more difficult to detect. They are also being modified to launch hypersonic missiles, a weapon capable of traveling at more than five times the speed of sound.
The presence of an American stealth warship in Japan—a U.S. ally—comes after China's simultaneous deployment of two aircraft carriers last month on the eastern side of the first island chain, a U.S. defensive line comprising Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines in the western Pacific.
What To Know
According to photos released by the U.S. Navy, the Michael Monsoor arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base near Tokyo on Monday for a scheduled port visit. The base also serves as the home port for USS George Washington, a U.S. aircraft carrier forward-deployed in Japan.
The Michael Monsoor is currently forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, according to a photo caption. The squadron—the U.S. Navy's largest destroyer unit—is the principal surface force of the Seventh Fleet, responsible for operations in the western Pacific.
This marked the second time Yokosuka Naval Base hosted a Zumwalt-class destroyer. The first ship built in the class, the Zumwalt, made a port call at the base from late September to early October 2022 during its three-month operational testing period in the Pacific Ocean.
Prior to its visit to Japan, the Michael Monsoor stopped at Naval Base Guam in April, according to photos released by the U.S. Navy. Guam, the U.S.'s westernmost territory, is at the center of the second island chain—which stretches from Japan to the island of New Guinea.
Quote:China's government appears to be censoring U.S. President Donald Trump's recent claim that he warned Chinese leader Xi Jinping he would bomb Beijing if the East Asian power invaded Taiwan, according to Newsweek's analysis of search results.
The comment surfaced in audio obtained by CNN, reportedly recorded during last year's presidential race, in which Trump told donors at a private event that he had similarly threatened a strike on Moscow if Russian President Vladimir Putin moved against Ukraine.
Reached by Newsweek about Trump's alleged comments, Liu Pengyu, China's embassy spokesperson in Washington, D.C., said he was "not aware of the situation."
Why It Matters
Trump previously boasted of his "very good relationship" with his Chinese and Russian counterparts. Yet he has become increasingly frustrated by Putin's refusal to end the nearly 3 1/2-year war with Ukraine—a conflict Trump promised to end within the first 100 days of his second term.
The audio was released just weeks after Trump's defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, warned that an invasion of Taiwan—which China claims as its territory—could be "imminent."
While the U.S. is Taiwan's top arms supplier, Washington maintains a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether it would come to the self-ruled island's defense if China attacked. Trump has continued this tradition, saying in February he would "never comment on that."
What To Know
In the audio clip, which was shared with CNN by Washington Post journalist Isaac Arnsdorf and the Wall Street Journal's Josh Dawsey, Trump can be heard claiming to have confronted Putin, warning he'd "bomb the s***" out of Moscow if he attacked Ukraine.
"I said the same thing to [Xi]. I said, you know if you go into Taiwan I'm gonna bomb the s*** out of Beijing," Trump added. "I said, I have no choice, I got to bomb you."
He then suggested both leaders had only 10 percent faith he would follow through, but added, "and 10 percent is all you need."
Chinese censors, who routinely scrub topics deemed sensitive to Beijing, appear to be suppressing news of Trump's alleged threat
While posts featuring Trump's warning to Putin quickly went viral—racking up more than 24 million views on the popular microblogging site Weibo within 12 hours on Wednesday—the China-related remarks have not been picked up by major political accounts or state media.
Quote:Aircraft from Japan—a treaty ally of the United States—and China have reportedly been involved in another close encounter, following similar incidents yesterday and last month.
In the most recent incident on Thursday, a Japanese intelligence-gathering aircraft was intercepted by a Chinese plane. The Japanese aircraft was flying over the East China Sea, where Japan and China have ongoing disputes over energy exploration and the sovereignty of the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, which are administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing as the Diaoyu Islands.
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Under a U.S. maritime containment strategy, Japan forms part of the First Island Chain—along with Taiwan and the Philippines—in the Western Pacific. This defensive line is intended to limit China's military activities within its immediate waters in the event of war.
In response to China's growing military presence around the First Island Chain, Japan has been closely monitoring Chinese air and naval operations in nearby airspace and waters.
What To Know
Japan's Defense Ministry announced that a YS-11EB intelligence-gathering aircraft was intercepted by a Chinese JH-7 fighter-bomber on Thursday morning over international waters above the East China Sea. The horizontal and vertical distances between the two aircraft were 196 feet and 98 feet, respectively.
The defense ministry described the Chinese aircraft's maneuver toward the Japanese plane during the incident, which lasted for 10 minutes, as "an unusual approach," warning that it could lead to a collision and urging the Chinese side to prevent a recurrence.
Japan's Defense Ministry added that there was no damage to the Japanese aircraft—assigned to the Air Self-Defense Force—and no injuries were reported among its crew.
A similar incident occurred on Wednesday morning when a YS-11EB was intercepted by a JH-7 at an unspecified close range for 15 minutes, again while flying over international waters in the East China Sea.
The YS-11EB aircraft was conducting surveillance, the ministry said in a press release, without providing further details about the mission or the exact location of the encounter.
UKRAINE WAR
Quote:Russia has launched its largest single-day drone attack of the Ukraine war to date, with President Donald Trump appearing to be losing patience with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
This involved 728 Shaheds, the Ukrainian Air Force said, adding that 13 missiles had also been fired, comprising seven Iskander-K cruise missiles and six Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. It said 718 of the weapons were neutralized in the overnight attack that ended on Wednesday morning.
"This is a telling attack—and it comes precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted to X.
NATO's Poland scrambled fighter jets to protect its airspace amid the Russian assault on neighboring Ukraine.
Russia's defense ministry said it had launched a strike "with high-precision long-range air-launched weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles and long-range attack unmanned aerial vehicles on the infrastructure of military airfields."
"The target of the strike has been achieved. All designated objects have been hit," the ministry said in a post on Telegram.
Trump Accuses Putin of 'B*******'
The latest assault came after Trump accused Putin of throwing "a lot of b*******" at the U.S.
"He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless," Trump said of Putin at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, July 8.
Russia has been escalating its aerial attacks and making advances in eastern Ukraine, as Trump tries to broker an end to Moscow's war.
Quote:Russia said it could not confirm the veracity of President Donald Trump's claim that he told Russian President Vladimir Putin he would bomb Moscow if Ukraine was invaded.
Audio of Trump speaking at a private meeting with fundraisers in 2024 about a conversation with Putin was broadcast by CNN.
"The fact is that there were no telephone conversations then," said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin, state news agency Tass reported.
"After all, we are talking, as far as I understand, about the period when Trump was not yet the president of the United States," he added.
When asked about the audio recording, the White House told Newsweek on Wednesday that "as President Trump has said time and again, Russia never dared invade Ukraine when he was in office."
...
CNN said the audio was from 2024 but it is not immediately clear when exactly the alleged conversation between Putin and Trump took place.
Peskov's comments Wednesday effectively reject Trump's claims made in the audio that he had warned Putin against attacking Ukraine—at least during the Biden administration.
In November, the Kremlin said a Washington Post report that Putin had spoken by phone with Trump after the U.S. election was false, a denial many analysts did not believe. Peskov's latest remarks will add to diplomatic intrigue between the U.S. and Russia at a time when Trump is stepping up his criticism of Putin.
What To Know
In the CNN report, Trump can been heard describing to donors while on the campaign trail how he had separately warned both Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping he would bomb their respective capitals if either of them invaded their neighbors.
The audio was obtained by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf, although it is not clear when the conversations with Putin and Xi were alleged to have taken place.
Regarding Russia, Trump said he had told Putin, "if you go into Ukraine, I'm gonna bomb the s*** out of Moscow,'" which was met with disbelief from the Russian leader, according to the U.S. president's account.
Peskov was asked about the alleged exchange and told reporters Wednesday that there were no telephone conversations between Putin and Trump when the latter was not the president of the U.S.
Peskov, whose remarks were originally in Russian, said: "I work in Russia, thank God."
"Whether this is fake or not, we also do not know. There are a lot of fakes now. Often, there are many more fakes than true information. And we always proceed from this when we analyze certain news," Peskov added.
Quote:President Donald Trump plans to use the authority granted to him under a foreign assistance law to send more defensive weapons to aid Ukraine in its war with Russia, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the decision.
The Context
The report came after Trump sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week and said the U.S. would send more military aid to Ukraine.
"We have to," Trump told reporters. "They have to be able to defend themselves."
What To Know
One source told the outlet that the military aid Trump plans to send to Ukraine could be worth as much as $300 million.
The president clarified in a phone interview with NBC News later Thursday that the U.S. would sell those weapons to NATO allies, who would then transfer them to Ukraine, including the Patriot missiles system.
"We're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100 percent," Trump told the outlet, adding that he would have a "major statement to make on Russia" early next week.
Trump will send the aid using the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), according to Reuters. That power is granted to the executive under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and allows the president to respond quickly to foreign crises by reallocating U.S. military supplies.
Former President Joe Biden utilized PDA twice during his term and the use of the power enables aid to reach its recipients within days—or sometimes hours—after approval, making it one of the government's most responsive tools in emergency foreign policy scenarios.
Quote:China's foreign ministry said it is still verifying information regarding the arrest in Ukraine of two Chinese nationals accused of espionage on behalf of Beijing's intelligence services.
The father and son are suspected of spying on Ukraine's Neptune anti-ship missile program to take the information back to Chinese intelligence. They were detained by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Mao Ning, spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said the "lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals need to be safeguarded" about the two men at a press briefing on Thursday.
China-Russia Partnership Amid Ukraine War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused China of deeper involvement in Russia's invasion than it is letting on. Beijing has repeatedly said China is not a party to or participant in the Ukraine war, and does not provide weapons to either side.
But Russia and China have deepened their strategic partnership during the war. China has played a vital role in supporting the Russian economy through Western sanctions via large-scale purchases of oil from Moscow.
The arrest of the alleged spies raises fresh questions about Chinese involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Beijing's purported neutrality in the conflict.
Ukraine's Neptune missiles have hit Russia's Black Sea fleet hard, and they were used to sink its flagship, the Moskva, in 2022. Intelligence about their production would be of high value to the Russians.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi laid out China's position on the war in Ukraine during a July 3 meeting with his German counterpart.
"China's position has been open and consistent, which includes promoting peace talks, not providing lethal weapons to parties in the conflict, and strictly controlling the export of dual-use articles, including drones," a foreign ministry readout of Wang's remarks said.
Chinese Spies Caught 'Red-Handed'
The SBU said its counterintelligence team caught the alleged spies "red-handed" during the transfer of secret documents from a Ukrainian citizen.
One of the Chinese men is a 24-year-old former student at a technical university in Kyiv, from which he was told to leave in 2023 for poor academic performance, the SBU said. He stayed in Kyiv.
His father is a permanent resident of China "but periodically visited Ukraine to personally coordinate his son's intelligence work," the SBU said.
The son was allegedly tasked with securing technical documentation for the production of Ukrainian Neptunes, so he attempted to recruit a Ukrainian citizen working on their development.
"During the searches, phones with evidence of their correspondence with each other, where they coordinate their espionage activities, were seized from both defendants," the SBU said.
If convicted, the two men face up to 15 years in jail.
Quote:Colonel Ivan Voronych of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) was shot dead as he left his home in Kyiv on Thursday morning. Ukraine's National Police and the SBU are investigating the killing.
A masked gunman approached the senior intelligence officer from a residential parking lot and shot him several times with a silenced handgun before fleeing the scene.
Authorities have not yet confirmed a motive for the killing, but it comes as Russia and Ukraine target their respective military and intelligence officials and other high-profile people for assassination while the war continues.
The SBU specializes in counterintelligence and special operations, with recent examples including the bombing of the Kerch Bridge connecting Russia to Crimea and the attack on Russian strategic bombers deep inside Moscow's territory.
RBC-Ukraine reported that an SBU officer was the victim of the shooting in the city's Holosiivskyi district, and later named him as Voronych, citing unnamed sources. The SBU subsequently confirmed his identity to the media.
Newsweek has contacted the SBU and Ukrainian National Police for comment.
The SBU told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspline that it and the police "are taking comprehensive measures to clarify all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice."
A suspect has not yet been publicly identified.
Roman Chervinsky Pays Tribute
Roman Chervinsky, a former top SBU colonel involved in special operations currently embroiled in legal troubles, paid tribute to Voronych in a post on Facebook.
Chervinsky, writing in Ukrainian, called it "a personal loss for me and for many patriotic employees" of the SBU and said Voronych "was killed by an enemy saboteur."
"He was a man who had been fighting the enemy since 2014 and was one of those who pioneered a direction within the Service that is now causing many problems for the orcs," Chervinsky wrote.
Voronych was also named as the victim by Ihor Mosiychuk, a far-right Ukrainian politician, in a Telegram post. He shared surveillance footage of the shooting.
Quote:krainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of launching 18 missiles and about 400 attack drones in a "massive" deadly attack overnight into Thursday, July 10, mostly targeted at capital Kyiv and the surrounding region. It lasted around 10 hours.
Moscow's intensification of strikes against Ukraine are fueling a change in U.S. President Donald Trump's perspective on Russia as he struggles to broker a peace deal. Trump has soured on Russian President Vladimir Putin, and is now openly criticizing him.
The American leader has resisted pressure from Ukraine and its European allies to increase the pressure on Russia, but now says he will send more defensive weapons to Kyiv in light of the strikes, signalling a hardening of his stance against Moscow.
"This is a clear escalation of terror by Russia—hundreds of 'Shaheds' every night, constant strikes, and massive attacks on Ukrainian cities," Zelensky posted to X, formerly Twitter, referring to the Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russian forces.
Zelensky said the Russian attack overnight also targeted Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, and Kharkiv regions. Ukraine's State Emergency Service said two people were killed and 22 injured.
What Russia Wants
The Russian Ministry of Defence said it had intercepted 17 Ukrainian drones overnight and in the early morning, as of 7:30 a.m. local time, over the Black Sea, Belgorod, Kursk, Crimea, and Penza.
Russia also accuses Ukraine of hitting civilian areas with its strikes. Putin has said Russia will not stop until its war goals are met.
Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, listed Moscow's demands for peace in an interview with Hungarian media, including Ukraine's demilitarization and neutrality, international recognition of territory occupied by Moscow, and the lifting of sanctions.
Lavrov also said his country wants protections for ethnic Russians and Russian culture in Ukraine, which he accused Kyiv of "destroying" since 2014.
Ukraine accuses Russia of launching an imperial war of aggression intended to seize control of the country, erase Ukrainian culture, and stop it exercising its sovereignty to deepen ties with Western institutions, such as NATO and the European Union (EU).
EUROPE
Quote:Romania has said it will acquire the Iron Dome missile defense system used by Israel to protect the NATO country from short-range missiles.
Defense minister Ionuț Moșteanu told Romanian television that a deal would be signed this year with manufacturer Rafael "to defend our cities."
Romania has raised the alarm over the spate of drones and missiles which have landed on its territory during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which it borders.
Roger Hilton, defense research fellow at the Slovakia-based think tank GLOBSEC, told Newsweek Thursday that repeated air violations from Russian drones in Ukraine had forced Bucharest to implement a stronger deterrence system.
Why It Matters
It was reported in September 2024 that debris from missiles and drones from the war in Ukraine were landing in Romania.
Russia's full-scale invasion had already sparked alarm among NATO members in Europe and Bucharest has repeatedly scrambled fighter jets after drones breached its airspace.
While there is no proof that Russia deliberately fired anything into the NATO country, Bucharest's move for an Iron Dome defense highlights concern about Moscow's threat to the alliance whose charter's Article 5 states an attack on one member is an attack on all.
What To Know
Moșteanu announced Bucharest wants to import the Iron Dome air defense system, local outlet G4media.ro reported.
He said the system—also used by Israel—would protect Romania from attacks with short and very short-range missiles and a contract for the SHORAD-VSHORAD air defense system is to be signed this autumn with manufacturer Rafael.
He said that images of the system protecting Tel Aviv during Iranian missile and drone attacks showed its effectiveness.
"It will protect us too. Whether it's airports, military bases or, God forbid, we need to defend our cities," Moșteanu told TVR, according to a translation.
Hilton told Newsweek an Iron Dome system on NATO's eastern flank shows a larger trend across the alliance of bolstering air defense systems against projectiles due to Russia's push to produce short-range tactical missiles and drones.
The Iron Dome system would be only one layer of air defense for Romania, and an expensive one at that, he said.
As allies start to deliver on their pledge to spend 3.5 percent of GDP on core capabilities, future similar announcements on air defense systems should be expected, according to Hilton.
"As these systems come online, it will surely be met with derision and false claims of escalation from the Kremlin," Hilton added.
LATIN AMERICA
Quote:Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday called the U.S. government's decision to once again close the border to cattle imports, "completely exaggerated," following the detection of a screwworm case in Veracruz, Mexico.
Newsweek has reached out to Mexico's Foreign Ministry for comment via email on Thursday.
Why It Matters
New World screwworm (NWS), a parasitic, flesh-eating fly whose larvae burrow into the wounds of living animals, has surged north through Central America since 2022, pushing through Mexico. The NWS lays its eggs in open wounds or orifices of various animals, which then hatch to produce maggots that burrow, or screw, into the flesh causing intense pain, injury and in some cases death to the affected animal.
The screwworm, scientifically known as Cochliomyia hominivorax, was previously eradicated from the U.S. decades ago. The U.S. has closed its ports to livestock in recent months because of the worm's presence in Mexico, having just recently reopened them.
What To Know
"From our point of view, they took a completely exaggerated decision in closing the border," Sheinbaum said Thursday during a press conference.
She noted that there was only one NWS case, which was identified in Veracruz.
Sheinbaum's comments come a day after the U.S. Agricultural Department (USDA) announced it was immediately closing the southern border to livestock trade following reports of the worm's northward spread.
The USDA's press release came shortly after Mexico's National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality confirmed a case of NWS about 370 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Quote:Archaeologists from the University of Houston have uncovered the tomb of Te K'ab Chaak, the first known ruler of Caracol, an ancient Maya city in present-day Belize.
The discovery comes after over four decades of excavation by married archaeologists Arlen F. Chase and Diane Z. Chase. The burial site, dating to around 350 AD, contained an array of artifacts, including 11 pottery vessels, jadeite jewelry, a mosaic jadeite mask and Pacific spondylus shells.
The Context
The uncovering of Te K'ab Chaak's tomb sheds new light on the origins of Maya dynastic rule and early regional connections in Mesoamerica. This find is the first time a Caracol king has been identified over the decades of research at the site, which was a dominant Maya metropolis before its abandonment by 900 AD.
What To Know
Te K'ab Chaak ascended to the throne around 331 AD and is recognized as the founder of Caracol's royal dynasty.
His tomb was located at the base of a royal family shrine. Two pottery lids in the chamber featured the heads of coatimundi, or tz'uutz' in Maya. These motifs were later adopted by Caracol rulers as part of their names.
The Chases estimated that Te K'ab Chaak was of advanced age at the time of his death. They also estimated that he was approximately 5'7" in height.
Researchers discovered a cremation burial containing the remains of three individuals dated to around 350 AD. It also contained goods from central Mexico such as knives, obsidian blades and atlatl points.
"This particular year, our research design was focused on this time period and the relationships between Caracol and the site of Teotihuacan, which is located outside of Mexico City," Diane Z. Chase told Newsweek.
Diane Z. Chase said they did not know they would find a tomb at the start of their research.
"There was an area that was clearly unexcavated," Arlen F. Chase told Newsweek. "And so we opened up a two-by-two meter excavation, reopened the tomb that we found in 1993 and then went through the floor. And when we went through the floor, we immediately hit this chamber."
The Chases said the size of Maya sites along with the dense jungle canopy in the area present challenges in archaeology study.
"We also discovered the city of Caracol covers some 240 square kilometers. It's a huge metropolitan city that's interrelated with roads," Arlen F. Chase said. "When we started in the Maya area, Maya sites were seen as being exceedingly small, little city-states, and there was no conception of how large these cities can be."
The University of Houston team collaborated with Belize's Institute of Archaeology for this field season.
David Stuart, a professor of Mesoamerican art and writing at the University of Texas at Austin, said the tomb dates back to a significant time period in Maya culture.
"The three hundreds was a key time in Caracol, in the history of that kingdom," Stuart told Newsweek.
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9
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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
