News of the World
08-09-2025, 01:40 AM
USA
Quote:Sen. Adam Schiff is reportedly under federal investigation for alleged mortgage fraud after a federal housing agency sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department in May regarding the California Democrat’s ownership of a Maryland home.
The US Attorney’s Office in Maryland is leading the probe, which could result in charges against the junior senator from California and former 12-term congressman, a Trump administration source told Fox News “Ingraham Angle” host Laura Ingraham on Tuesday.
The DOJ, Maryland US Attorney’s Office and Schiff did not immediately respond to The Post’s requests for comment.
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte sent a referral letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on May 27 detailing “multiple instances” between 2003 and 2019 when Schiff allegedly “falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, impacting payments” for property he owns in Potomac, Md. — one of the most affluent Washington, DC, suburbs.
Schiff, 65, listed the Maryland home as his primary residence in several mortgage refinancing filings between 2009 and 2013, despite being an elected official representing the Golden State and having taken out a homeowner’s tax exemption on a Burbank, Calif., condo he purchased — which he also claimed as his primary residence — over the same time period, according to Pulte.
Schiff and his wife did not list the Potomac property as a secondary residence until 2020, Pulte noted.
“Mr. Schiff appears to have falsified records in order to receive favorable loan terms, and also appears to have been aware of the financial benefits of a primary residence mortgage when compared to a secondary residence mortgage as a spokesperson in 2023 told the media outlet CNN that, ‘Adam’s California and Maryland addresses have been listed as primary residences for loan purposes because they are both occupied throughout the year and to distinguish them from a vacation property,’” the letter explained.
Quote:Federal immigration agents escaped an arson attack at their office in Yakima, Washington, over the weekend, The Post has learned.
An unidentified crazed arsonist first threw a rock through a window of the building — which is listed as a field office on ICE’s website — before setting a fire in the back of the property on Saturday, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Post.
Photos taken during the torching show flames charring the grass behind a chain link fence surrounding the building while a thick cloud of black smoke billowed above.
There were no injuries reported.
While McLaughlin said it’s not confirmed that immigration agents were the target of the firebombing, the building has public signage identifying it as a Department of Homeland Security office.
The complex, 140 miles southeast of Seattle, is also home to a Washington state Department of Social and Health Services office.
Assaults on ICE personnel are up 830% as the Trump administration pushes a mass deportation campaign, according to McLaughlin.
She railed against sanctuary leaders for demonizing immigration agents.
“Make no mistake, Democrat politicians like [House Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries, Mayor [Michelle] Wu of Boston, [Minnesota Gov.] Tim Walz, and Mayor [Karen] Bass of Los Angeles are contributing to the surge in assaults of our ICE officers through their repeated vilification and demonization of ICE,” said McLaughlin.
“From comparisons to the modern-day Nazi Gestapo to glorifying rioters, the violent rhetoric of these sanctuary politicians is beyond the pale,” she said.
Quote:Disney and Lucasfilm said Thursday that they had settled a lawsuit filed by the actor Gina Carano, who alleged she was wrongfully terminated from the Star Wars television series “The Mandalorian” in 2021.
Carano filed a lawsuit in federal court in California in February 202,4, alleging she was fired from her role on the show for voicing right-wing opinions on social media. She claimed she suffered emotional damage and lost millions in income following the termination. She sought a court order that would require Lucasfilm to reinstate her or compensate her at least $75,000.
The terms of the settlement were not immediately disclosed. The Lucasfilm statement said the agreement will “resolve the issues in her pending lawsuit against the companies.”
“Ms. Carano was always well respected by her directors, co-stars, and staff, and she worked hard to perfect her craft while treating her colleagues with kindness and respect,” Lucasfilm said in a statement. “With this lawsuit concluded, we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.”
Carano also announced the settlement in a statement via her agent, saying the deal “is the best outcome for all parties involved.”
“I am excited to flip the page and move onto the next chapter. My desires remain in the arts, which is where I hope you will join me,” said Carano, who had a supporting role on “The Mandalorian” as Cara Dune, a mercenary.
Quote:A gunman is dead after opening fire at Georgia’s Emory University Friday afternoon, spraying bullets at a police cruiser and a nearby CDC headquarters building – leaving one officer injured, according to police and photos.
The suspect died after the frightening shooting that prompted students to shelter in place on the last day of the summer term, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
“There is no ongoing threat to the Emory Campus or the surrounding neighborhood,” police said in an updated alert on X around 6:45 p.m.
“The incident involved a single shooter, who is now deceased. One law enforcement officer was injured in the course of the response.”
The Atlanta school issued an urgent alert shortly after 5 p.m., reporting an active shooter near the Emory Point CVS on campus and urging all students to “RUN” and “HIDE.”
A rapid barrage of gunfire can be heard in horrifying social media videos as police and first responders raced to the scene.
In one video filmed by a nearby resident, eight gunshots ring out, followed by a brief pause, then more than a dozen pop in rapid succession.
“It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other,” Brandy Giraldo, the owner of a nearby deli, told the Associated Press.
A post from the school had advised students to shelter in place as the Atlanta Police Department responded to 1760 Clifton Road – close to where the CVS referred to in the bulletin is located. The lockdown was lifted by 6:30 p.m.
Police swarmed Emory Point and the main campus of the CDC, FOX 5 reported, while chilling photos shared on social media showed bullet holes piercing the windows of the health agency’s headquarters, located right next to the university.
Quote:At least five soldiers were wounded after an Army sergeant who was recently arrested allegedly opened fire Wednesday at Fort Stewart in Georgia.
The suspect has been identified as 28-year-old Quornelius Radford, a U.S. Army active-duty automated logistics sergeant from Jacksonville, Florida, who was assigned to the installation.
Army officials said Radford allegedly used a personal handgun in the shooting, and was tackled by other soldiers before being taken into custody. He had not deployed to combat.
"These soldiers, without a doubt, prevented further casualties," Brig. Gen. John Lubas, 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield commander, wrote in a statement. "Right now, our primary focus is on supporting the family members of the five victims and the Soldiers of the Spartan Brigade."
Though the Army said Radford did not have any prior disciplinary or behavioral issues, court records show he was arrested in Liberty County on May 18, and charged with driving under the influence and failure to obey traffic control devices.
Army officials said the charges were unknown to Radford's chain of command.
Radford is currently being interviewed by Army investigators and is being held in pre-trial confinement. A motive has not yet been released.
President Donald Trump weighed in during a news conference Wednesday afternoon, noting the perpetrator will be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law."
"The Army Criminal Investigation Division is on site to ensure that the perpetrator of this atrocity, which is exactly what it is, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Trump said. "The entire nation is praying for the victims and their families, and hopefully they'll fully recover. We can put this chapter behind, but we're not going to forget what happened. We're going to take very good care of this. This person that did this horrible person."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the president's sentiment in a statement on X.
"Today, a cowardly shooting at Fort Stewart left five brave Soldiers wounded. Praise God they are all in stable condition," Hegseth wrote in a post. "Our prayers are with them, their families, and the entire Fort Stewart community in the aftermath of this attack. We owe profound gratitude to the law enforcement heroes who charged into danger. Swift justice will be brought to the perpetrator and anyone else found to be involved."
Quote:The US Army veteran wanted for allegedly killing four people in a smalltown Montana bar was captured Friday after seven days on the run, according to a report.
Michael Brown, 45, was taken into custody at 2 p.m. after the week-long manhunt in the rugged countryside outside the town of Anaconda, KTVH reported, citing the Clark County Sheriff’s office.
The alleged madman is in custody of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County authorities, the report stated.
The arrest comes exactly one week after the military veteran allegedly opened fire in the Owl Bar in Anaconda killing Nancy Kelley, 64, Daniel Baillie, 59, David Leach, 70, and Tony Palm, 74.
“I am proud of the unrelenting law enforcement effort this week to find and arrest Michael Paul Brown,” Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said in a statement following the arrest.
“The support we’ve seen for the community of Anaconda from across the state and the nation has also been remarkable. The families and friends of the victims remain in my prayers,” the statement read.
Brown fled the Owl bar on Aug. 1 in just his underwear after allegedly committing the heinous murders and disappeared into the wilds of Montana, according to authorities
The suspect lived next door to the bar and was a regular at the dive.
Quote:New York Attorney General Letitia James was hit with a pair of subpoenas as part of a grand jury probe scrutinizing a $454 million civil fraud case against President Trump, a source familiar with the investigation told The Post Friday.
Acting Albany US Attorney John Sarcone convened the grand jury to address potential deprivation of rights allegations after launching an investigation of James in coordination with the FBI this past May.
One of the subpoenas related to the civil fraud judgment won by the Empire State AG’s office against Trump, which is still under review by the First Department appellate division.
A second subpoena reportedly sought information on James’ own investigation of the National Rifle Association, along with other records.
Separately, a grand jury in Virginia is examining whether to hand up an indictment against James for allegedly falsifying records to receive favorable loans on a home she purchased in Norfolk in 2023, The Post’s Miranda Devine has learned.
The Albany subpoenas were first reported by Fox News and the New York Times.
“Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American,” a James rep said in a statement. “We stand strongly behind our successful litigation against the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association, and we will continue to stand up for New Yorkers’ rights.”
James had been a fierce critic of the 45th president’s administration and brought the civil case in 2022, claiming that the Trump Organization inflated the value of its real estate holdings to get favorable loans and other financial perks.
New York’s top cop and her supporters often professed “no one is above the law” in discussing the case, which started with an investigation launched in 2019 while Trump was still serving his first term.
Yet, he had paid his loans back without issues.
Who was the victim there?Quote:The FBI announced the arrest of a sheriff from Suffolk County, Massachusetts, on charges of extortion. The arrest of the immigration sanctuary county sheriff follows an investigation into allegations that he extorted $50,000 from a Boston-based cannabis company.
FBI agents arrested Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins on Friday in the Southern District of Florida, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. He will be transported to Boston after an appearance in the Florida federal court.
Tompkins is charged by indictment for two counts of Extortion under Color of Official Right. He allegedly extorted $50,000 from the owner of a national cannabis retailer based in Boston.
“Mr. Tompkins is a sitting Sheriff, responsible for over 1,000 employees, who was elected by the good people of Suffolk County,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks said in a written statement. “Today, he is alleged to have extorted an executive from a cannabis company, using his official position as Sheriff to benefit himself.”
Elected officials, particularly those in law enforcement, are expected to be ethical, honest and law abiding – not self-serving,” Docks said. “His alleged actions are an affront to the voters and taxpayers who elected him to his position, and the many dedicated and honest public servants at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. The people of Suffolk County deserve better.”
Court records reveal that the cannabis company sought to open a retail cannabis dispensary in Boston. Following the application with the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, Sheriff Tompkins allegedly pressured one of the owners to obtain stock in the venture. After increasing pressure from the sheriff, he wired a $50,000 payment for shares in the company.
The stock eventually decreased in value to the point that the sheriff allegedly lost money in his investment and demanded a refund of the $50,000. The individual refunded the money in smaller payments, labeling them as “loan repayments” to disguise the nature of the payments, prosecutors stated.
Quote:President Trump has secretly authorized the military to use force against Latin American drug cartels classified as foreign terrorist organizations, The Post has learned.
The move is the most aggressive action Trump has yet taken against gangs trafficking drugs like fentanyl across the US-Mexico border, the activities of which were previously the purview of federal law enforcement.
The order, first reported Friday by the New York Times, gives US forces official permission to engage cartels on land and sea.
“The president is determined to not just dismantle – but completely destroy – [Venezuelan dictator Nicolas] Maduro’s Cartel de Los Soles and obliterate their operations in the Western Hemisphere,” a source close to the White House said.
The State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking include Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Cartel de Los Soles, as well as El Salvador-rooted Mara Salvatrucha, known as MS-13.
Trump, 79, publicly mulled authorizing the military to target drug cartels inside Mexico on the 2024 campaign trail.
Since taking office, the president has upped tariffs on Canada and Mexico, citing their inability to shut down drug and people smuggling into the US — and directing immigration agents to go after new arrivals with gang ties.
Quote:President Donald Trump has removed former U.S. Rep. Billy Long as IRS commissioner less than two months after his confirmation, a White House official said Friday.
The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not give a reason for the dismissal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner, the official said.
The Senate confirmed Long on a 53-44 vote despite Democrats’ concerns about the Republican’s past work for a firm that pitched a fraud-ridden coronavirus pandemic-era tax break and about campaign contributions he received after Trump nominated him.
While in Congress, where he served from 2011 to 2023, Long sponsored legislation to get rid of the IRS. A former auctioneer, Long has no background in tax administration.
Quote:Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has blasted “South Park” creators as “lazy” and “petty” after the show cruelly mocked her appearance — depicting her as a vain, Botoxed bimbo.
“It never ends, but it’s so lazy to constantly make fun of women for how they look,” Noem, 53, told Glenn Beck on his podcast Thursday.
“It’s always the liberals and the extremists who do that. If they wanted to criticize my job, go ahead and do that, but clearly they can’t, they just pick something petty like that.”
Noem admitted she hadn’t watched the latest episode in which she’s portray as a glammed-up ICE agent who loves Botox, kills puppies and arrests anyone who is Hispanic.
She said she was too busy “going over budget numbers and stuff.”
It comes after the White House ripped “South Park” as “irrelevant” and accused the show’s creators of desperately seeking attention following a spate of recent episodes that roasted President Trump and his administration.
The day before the Noem episode aired, Homeland Security used an image from the show to advertise its ICE recruitment drive.
“We want to thank ‘South Park’ for drawing attention to ICE law enforcement recruitment: We are calling on patriotic Americans to help us remove murderers, gang members, pedophiles, and other violent criminals from our country,” a statement from the agency said ahead of the show.
“Benefits available to new ICE recruits include an up to $50,000 signing bonus, student loan forgiveness, and retirement benefits.”
EUROPE
Quote:The trade deal struck between the U.S. and the European Union will allow the EU to escape the latest tariffs President Donald Trump has threatened to place on pharmaceuticals, Newsweek understands.
On Tuesday, Trump said he was planning to place a "small tariff" on drug imports that will eventually grow to 250 percent. But thanks to the pact agreed in late July, the EU will see its pharmaceuticals hit with only a 15-percent tariff, far below the rates other countries may encounter.
Why It Matters
This aligns with the terms of the deal published by the White House, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's assurance that pharmaceuticals were among the sectors for which the 15 percent rate represented a firm "ceiling."
However, Trump's comments on new pharmaceutical tariffs sparked uncertainty over whether these would apply on top of agreed rates, triggering the share prices of many European drug companies to plummet.
What To Know
During an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Trump said he was planning to impose new sectoral duties on pharmaceuticals, like the tariffs already placed on steel, aluminum and auto imports.
"On pharmaceuticals, we'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals," Trump said. "But in one year, one and a half years maximum, it's going to go to 150 percent, and then it's going to go to 250 percent, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country."
The president went on to say that he would be announcing specifics "within a week or so," and that this new tariff would be separate from country-specific duties.
UKRAINE WAR
Quote:A string of NATO state pledges to acquire mostly U.S. weapons to provide to Ukraine has marked a victory for President Donald Trump in his effort to strike a balance on shifting the burden of Washington's role in the war to European allies while maintaining a role in the conflict.
The developments take place as Trump has hardened his rhetoric against Russian President Vladimir Putin, offering him until Friday to demonstrate progress on stalled peace talks.
"This initiative strikes the correct balance between ensuring Ukraine has the weapons needed to continue to resist Russian aggression and buying time for President Trump's diplomacy and economic pressure to take hold," Alexander Gray, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council who served on the staff of the National Security Council under the first Trump administration, told Newsweek.
Gray also pointed out the broader geopolitical stakes that the Trump administration had in mind, including "the very real need of the United States to empower Europe to take the lead in its backyard while U.S. attention adjusts to the existential threat of China in the Indo-Pacific."
Money and Munitions on the Move
The Netherlands was the first to announce on Monday that it would deliver an estimated $580 million package of U.S. weapons, including Patriot air defense systems and artillery equipment, to Ukraine.
NATO reported the following day that Denmark, Norway and Sweden had confirmed they would purchase $500 million worth of U.S.-sourced equipment. Both moves mark the first two tranches under the NATO-led Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce welcomed the back-to-back moves as critical for Ukraine, as well as for the Trump administration's broader outlook on recalibrating the transatlantic security partnerships in a way that was more beneficial to the U.S.
"These commitments deliver on President Trump's initiative to facilitate billions of dollars in investment to the United States defense industry and create American jobs while ensuring Europe can ultimately defend itself long term," Bruce told reporters on Tuesday.
They also come on the heels of a trade deal reached late last month between the U.S. and the European Union, through which Trump said EU member states—the majority of whom are also in NATO—agreed to purchase "hundreds of billions of dollars-worth of military equipment" from the U.S.
Last week, EU Ambassador to the U.S. Jovita Neliupšienė spoke to the importance of the military component of the trade agreement, both in the context of the war in Ukraine and EU member states' own security, in an interview with Newsweek.
"Because of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, and because for European countries, security is really an existential topic right now," Neliupšienė told Newsweek at the time, "I think cooperation on the strategic level, but as well on defense procurement with the U.S., is extremely important."
Quote:Russia is aiding North Korea in modernizing its nuclear weapons delivery systems, according to Ukraine's top military intelligence official.
The disclosure could reinforce long-standing suspicions among U.S. and South Korean officials that North Korea has been receiving technical support in exchange for providing weapons and troops to bolster Russia's war effort in Ukraine.
Newsweek has contacted the North Korean Embassy in Beijing and the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment via written requests.
Why It Matters
Last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin deepened military cooperation with a defense pact that raised alarm in Western capitals.
The deployment of an estimated 11,000 North Korean troops to join Russian forces fighting a Ukrainian insurgency in the Kursk region late last year further escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula, already at their highest levels in decades.
Kim continues to expand his United Nations-sanctioned nuclear program and test increasingly advanced ballistic missiles—justifying the moves as responses to "provocations" from Washington and its allies.
What To Know
Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, told local media that while Russia was unlikely to assist Iran in building nuclear weapons, technical support to North Korea was already underway.
"I can say this directly. As for North Korea, the situation is quite difficult. First of all, North Korea already has nuclear weapons, but the Russian Federation is helping it modernize its nuclear weapons carriers. This is really happening," Budanov said.
Last month, he said the Kim regime had already acquired Russia's Pantsir-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft system and was deploying it to defend the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.
Quote:President Donald Trump on Friday said there will be "swapping of territories" between Russia and Ukraine as part of a deal to bring an end to Moscow's long-running invasion of the neighboring country.
Why It Matters
Trump's comments come as he prepares for a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin over bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. The summit will take place on August 15 and cap weeks of intensified pressure from the Trump administration for Russia to agree to the terms of a ceasefire proposal. The president has accused Putin of being disingenuous and throwing "a lot of bulls***" at the U.S.
Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, also had a meeting with Putin in recent days, which took place against the backdrop of public pressure from the U.S. and the threat of new sanctions and tariffs aimed at countries buying Russian oil.
What To Know
Asked Friday whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country was invaded by Russia in 2022, will have to give up territory as part of a peace deal, Trump responded: "Well, you're looking at territory that's been fought over for 3 1/2 years ... you know, a lot of Russians have died. A lot of Ukrainians have died."
"So we're looking at that, but we're actually looking to get some back," the president added. "Some swapping. It's complicated ... but we're going to get some back, we're going to get some switched. There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but we'll be talking about that either later or tomorrow."
What Happens Next
Trump announced on Friday night that he and Putin will meet on August 15 in Alaska.
MIDDLE EAST
Quote:Iran said it has executed a man caught working as a spy for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, accusing him of passing on secrets—including information about an Iranian nuclear scientist who was killed in Israel's recent attacks.
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The reported execution reflects Iran's intensifying efforts to root out suspected espionage following the "12-day war" in June, which saw Israel and the U.S. strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Amir Hatami, the commander in chief of Iran's military, warned on Sunday that threats from Israel persisted and that Iranian forces "were ready for operations," Iranian state media reported.
Iran executed three men charged with spying for Israel on June 24 as part of a sweeping crackdown. Human rights groups have condemned a wave of hundreds of arrests and warned that the government is using the June conflict as a pretext to escalate repression. Rights groups have also cited concerns over forced confessions.
What To Know
The Iranian news agency SNN, or Student News Network, reported that a man named Roozbeh Vadi had been found guilty of "espionage and intelligence cooperation in favor of the Zionist regime" and hanged on August 5.
"According to the case documents and Roozbeh Vadi's statements, the man was fully aware of his cooperation with the Mossad spy-terrorist service and deliberately collaborated with the Zionist enemy," SNN reported, according to an unofficial translation of its report.
"The defendant was active in one of the country's important and sensitive organizations and, given the level of access he had, had become an attractive subject for the Zionist regime's spy service," it said.
The news agency did not elaborate on which organization Vadi worked for but said he had traveled to Vienna five times, including for training, where he met Mossad agents.
In the course of his "extensive cooperation with the Zionist regime," the man "provided information to the Mossad spy service about one of our country's nuclear scientists who was martyred in the recent Israeli aggression," SNN reported.
Israel targeted and killed several prominent Iranian military figures and nuclear scientists in its strikes in June, the Israel Defense Forces and Iranian media reported.
Vadi had been placed under surveillance after he returned from one of his trips abroad and was arrested "when his connections and cooperation with the Zionist enemy were discovered," SNN said.
Quote:Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem has rejected a U.S.-backed proposal to disarm and vowed that any Israeli escalation would be met with a forceful response.
"The state must provide protection, not strip its people and resistance of their strength; it should benefit from it rather than disarm in favor of 'Israel,' America, and an Arab country," Qassem said on Tuesday.
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The Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group is showing defiance despite months of political and military pressure, including a declaration in June that it would not respond to Israel and U.S. strikes on Iran—out of respect for the Lebanon ceasefire.
Israel has long sought the disarmament of Iran's network of proxy groups, but Hezbollah argues there are no credible guarantees that Israel will honor a ceasefire. The group also faces internal pressure, as Lebanon's prolonged economic crisis has tied potential international aid to state control over weapons.
What To Know
"We reject any timetable proposed under the umbrella of Israeli aggression," Qassem said on Tuesday, rejecting the government's plan to set a disarmament deadline by year's end, according to Hezbollah's official channel Al-Manar TV.
Referring to what he called "American guardianship," he said the U.S. plan sought to serve only Israel's interests. U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack presented a plan in Beirut on June 19 that called for Hezbollah to disarm by November—in exchange for an Israeli troop withdrawal, a halt to airstrikes, economic reforms and border demarcation, according to Reuters.
Qassem said Barrack demanded Hezbollah give up even basic arms in 30 days and cut capabilities by half in return for a limited Israeli pullout. When asked at a July news conference in Beirut whether the U.S. could guarantee Israel's withdrawal, Barrack replied that Washington "cannot compel Israel to act."
In July and early August, incidents along the Israel–Lebanon border put the U.S.-brokered ceasefire under strain. Qassem warned Israel that any escalation would trigger a forceful response, saying, "Rockets will fall inside the entity, collapsing the security they have built over eight months within one hour."
The Lebanese government is under intense pressure to secure foreign aid, especially from Gulf countries and international institutions. As part of this effort, there is mounting internal and external pressure on Hezbollah to agree to disarmament or at least reduce its military role.
"We refuse to be slaves to anyone. To those who talk to us about concessions because of funding cuts, we ask: What funding do you mean?" Qassem said.
Lebanon has been grappling with one of the worst financial collapses globally, with its gross domestic product dropping by more than 38 percent and the currency losing more than 98 percent of its value since 2019, according to the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy in 2025. The crisis has been deepened by widespread corruption, mismanagement and a lack of credible reforms.
Barrack told Lebanon's LBC TV that Gulf partners—traditionally the main investors in Lebanon's recovery—remain skeptical of channeling funds without meaningful reforms and guarantees.
Quote:Senior Iranian official Abbas Araghchi issued a stark message regarding the future of nuclear negotiations with Washington, telling the media that Tehran had no intention of returning to talks with the U.S. under pressure.
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U.S. threats and Iran's hardened stance in nuclear negotiations increase the risks for a renewed military confrontation in the region. Iran and European countries are at odds over the soon expiring 2015 nuclear deal and Tehran's restriction of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from accessing key nuclear sites.
Iran is vowing a severe response to any renewed attacks by Israel or the U.S. and is demanding guarantees before engaging with Washington, along with financial compensation for damage to key nuclear facilities caused by bombings.
What To Know
Speaking with state media on Wednesday, Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, confirmed that Tehran had received messages from Washington but noted that no concrete steps toward negotiations had been taken.
"Whether dialogue and negotiations take place in the near or distant future depends on what our national interests require," Araghchi said, according to the U.K.-based outlet IranWire.
Iran is engaged in talks with the U.K., France and Germany, which have threatened a "snapback" mechanism that would reimpose U.N. sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear accord if Iran fails to commit to diplomacy and international nuclear oversight.
Araghchi said Iran was imposing "new conditions" for its relationship with the IAEA, which must now obtain approval from the Supreme National Security Council, an entity closely tied to the supreme leader and the military-security establishment, Iranian media reported.
Iran said it would not permit access to its nuclear facilities to IAEA inspectors, which the U.N. watchdog pulled out of the country following Tehran's decision to suspend cooperation in the aftermath of the Israel and U.S. attacks.
"Regarding our nuclear program, we must say that the Agency has not performed well, especially in the last few months when they prepared a report, before the war, which led to a resolution in the Board of Governors," Araghchi said on Wednesday, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.
Quote:Israel's Security Cabinet approved a plan to take over Gaza City and eventually implement "Israeli security control" of the entire Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement early on Friday.
Gaza City is in the north of the 26-mile coastal enclave and has been largely devastated by Israeli military strikes over the past 22 months.
Why It Matters
The Security Cabinet's decision capped months of failed ceasefire talks between Netanyahu's government and Hamas, with both sides accusing each other of repeated violations.
Israel has also faced increased international pressure to reach a ceasefire deal after Hamas released videos showing emaciated Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, which the group said was the result of Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to the war-torn territory.
After the videos were released, Netanyahu said he would convene a Cabinet meeting to discuss how Israel can meet the three main goals he set out for the war: defeating Hamas, returning the hostages and ensuring Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) leadership has expressed strong resistance to a full-scale ground reoccupation of Gaza, according to multiple Israeli officials. Expanding military operations would also further isolate Israel internationally as several of its closest Western allies have called on it to end the war and facilitate more humanitarian aid.
What To Know
Israel's military says it controls about 75 percent of Gaza. Most of its population of about 2 million has been displaced multiple times in the past 22 months, following Hamas' devastating October 7, 2023, attacks that claimed the lives of as many as 1,200 Israelis, most of them civilians.
Aid groups are warning of looming famine in Gaza.
Netanyahu's office said early on Friday that the Security Cabinet had "approved the Prime Minister's proposal for defeating Hamas."
"The IDF will prepare for taking control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones," the office said in the statement on X.
Netanyahu's office added that a majority of the Security Cabinet adopted "five principles for concluding the war." The principles were disarming Hamas; having all hostages—living and dead—returned to Israel; the "demilitarization of the Gaza Strip"; Israeli "security control in the Gaza Strip"; and the "establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority."
Quote:Germany marked the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings with a stark warning that nuclear war "cannot be won and must never be fought," as Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul condemned growing threats to the global nuclear order.
In a statement released Wednesday, Wadephul criticized Russia for engaging in "nuclear blackmail," warning it undermines decades of arms control efforts and poses a threat to global security.
"Unfortunately, we also see countries like Russia engage in nuclear blackmail, thereby calling into question the nuclear order and its function as a central pillar of global security," Wadephul said.
Wadephul also expressed Germany's dedication to ensuring that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.
Why It Matters
The remarks reflect mounting concern within NATO that global nuclear stability is eroding amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
There has been international concern over Iran's nuclear program. Iran has said that its nuclear program is peaceful and for civilian energy use, but international observers believe the country has enriched uranium beyond what is needed for non-nuclear purposes.
Iran has sought support from Russia following the United States and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
What To Know
Wadephul reaffirmed Germany's commitment alongside France and the United Kingdom to strengthening the Non-Proliferation Treaty and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, signed in 1968, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. With nearly 200 parties, it is the most widely adhered-to nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently told the Financial Times that the country has the technology to restart uranium enrichment despite damage to its facilities.
"Buildings can be rebuilt. Machines can be replaced because the technology is there. We have plenty of scientists and technicians who used to work in our facilities," he said. "But when and how we restart our enrichment depends on the circumstances."
What People Are Saying
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, in a statement: "To safeguard peace and security, we must continue to bolster our deterrence and defence capabilities, while continuing to work with determination to promote the international order."
Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Financial Times: "We can negotiate, they can present their argument, and we will present our own argument. But with zero enrichment, we don't have a thing."
Quote:Germany will suspend all arms exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Friday.
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Germany's suspension of arms exports to Israel marked a significant development in European-Israeli relations and international debate over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. As one of Israel's principal allies, Germany's decision highlighted rising global concerns about the humanitarian impact of Israel's intensified military actions in the region and signaled possible shifts in Western policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The move underscored the growing divide among international stakeholders regarding military escalation and how Israel aims to achieve its stated security objectives in Gaza.
What To Know
Merz announced that the federal government would immediately halt the approval of any arms exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip. The announcement came in direct response to a late-night decision by Israel's political-security Cabinet to move forward with a plan to take control of Gaza City as part of a broader operation to eradicate Hamas from the enclave.
"Israel has the right to defend itself against the terror of Hamas," Merz said. "The release of the hostages and determined negotiations on a ceasefire are our top priority. The disarmament of Hamas is essential. Hamas must not play a role in the future of Gaza."
However, Merz expressed doubts over Israel's latest military strategy, saying that it was "increasingly difficult to see how these goals can be achieved" through the intensified campaign. He added that "under these circumstances, the German government will not approve any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice."
Germany, which granted export licenses for military equipment to Israel worth 485 million euros ($564 million) between October 2023 and May 2025, had been one of Israel's largest arms suppliers in Europe.
Quote:The U.S. State Department has reiterated a strong advisory against travel to Iran, particularly for dual nationals, because of the risk of detention. The warning came in response to Iranian President Massed Pezeshkian's public call for diaspora Iranians to return home.
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Iran remains under a long-standing "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory because of the risks of terrorism, kidnapping, wrongful detention and civil unrest. In July, the U.S. issued a warning about Iran allegedly working with criminal cartels to target regime critics, including dissidents and activists, even inside the United States.
What To Know
The United States has reiterated its warning to Americans to avoid travel to Iran in light of tensions that escalated into a 12-day military conflict that culminated in U.S. strikes on nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic in June.
According to Iranian media, Pezeshkian told officials that efforts are underway to make it easier and safer for Iranians living abroad to return to the country.
"They are the country's assets and their capacity should be used in a desirable way," he said, Eghtesad News, a Persian-language Iranian news outlet, reported. He did not explicitly mention dissidents or political exiles.
In past years, rights critics said the Iranian regime had expanded its clandestine program of foreign assassinations, renditions and harassment of dissidents and political opponents.
Two American citizens remain detained in Iran on suspicion of spying for Israel, state media said, although efforts are ongoing—externally and internally—to secure their release.
MEXICO
Quote:Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum claimed U.S. troops will not be entering her country to fight drug cartels. The claim comes just hours after a report pointed to U.S. President Donald Trump having signed a secret order directing the U.S. military to move against drug cartels.
When asked about it during her morning news conference, Sheinbaum said that U.S. troops would not be entering Mexico, adding that her government had been very straightforward with the Trump administration, stating that they would not allow U.S. action but were willing to cooperate.
“We cooperate, collaborate, but there will be no invasion,” she said. “That is off the table, absolutely off the table.”
The report that triggered the heated question came from the New York Times, which claimed that the order provides an official basis for direct military operations at sea or on foreign soil against cartels.
Sheinbaum stated that in prior calls and discussions with the Trump administration, her government had informed the U.S. that military intervention was not permitted and was not part of any accords.
“We had been told that this order was coming, and it was expressed to us that there was going to be no participation of any military or institution in our territory,” the Mexican president said. “The U.S. agencies that have a presence in this country are very strictly regulated. We are the country that has more regulations on foreign agencies.”
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9
Maranatha!
The Internet might be either your friend or enemy. It just depends on whether or not she has a bad hair day.
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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
