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Quote:The suspect who shot and killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk remains on the run Thursday as investigators released images of a "person of interest" wanted in connection to the incident.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was struck with a single bullet around 12:20 p.m. local time Wednesday while speaking at an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem. Authorities revealed Thursday that they recovered a weapon and have "good footage" of the gunman, whom they described as being "college age."
President Donald Trump also announced Thursday that Kirk will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
"Let me express the horror and grief so many Americans at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk," Trump said during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony. "Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people. Our prayers are with his wonderful wife, Erika, and his beautiful children – fantastic people they are. We miss him greatly."
"I can tell you that we have recovered what we believe is the weapon that was used in yesterday's shooting. It is a high-powered bolt action rifle," FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls said Thursday. "That rifle was recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled. So the FBI laboratory will be analyzing this weapon. Investigators have also collected footwear impression, a palm print and forearm imprints for analysis."
Multiple sources confirmed to Fox News that investigators are looking at what appear to be messages on both the gun and its ammunition. The content of the messages is unclear.
FBI Salt Lake City released multiple images Thursday of a "person of interest" wanted in connection to the shooting.
"The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah," the agency said.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason also said, "we do have good video footage of this individual."
"Starting at 11:52 a.m. this subject arrived on campus. Shortly away from campus, we have tracked his movements onto the campus, through the stairwells, up to the roof across the roof to the shooting location," Mason added. "After the shooting, we were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled off of the campus and into a neighborhood."
"Our investigators have worked through those neighborhoods, contacting anybody they can with doorbell cameras, witnesses and thoroughly worked through those communities, trying to identify any leads," Mason continued.
Mason said Wednesday that investigators were in possession of "closed-circuit TV" footage of the suspect taken from campus security cameras.
"We do have that. We're analyzing it. But it is security camera footage, so you can kind of guess what the quality of that is," he added. "But we do know, dressed in all dark clothing."
Utah dispatch audio revealed the frantic moments after Kirk was shot.
"He’s going to be wearing all black, black long gun, black tactical helmet, a black mask, possibly wearing a tactical vest and jeans," a female dispatcher said over the radio, according to recordings.
The common hunting weapon is valued for its reliability but limited to a single shot before reloading
Quote:The gun recovered by authorities in the assassination of Charlie Kirk was a bolt-action rifle — a common hunting weapon valued for its reliability but limited to a single shot before reloading.
Unlike a semiautomatic, the shooter must manually operate the bolt handle to cycle the weapon: lifting and pulling it back moves the spent cartridge, while pushing it forward chambers a new round from the magazine. Lowering the bolt locks the round and seals the chamber, making the rifle ready to fire again — a simple, durable design that has kept it popular among hunters and target shooters.
"This process limits the rate of fire, you can only take one shot at a time," explained retired Marine Lt. Col. Hal Kempfer in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Kempfer noted that with a bolt-action rifle, the spent cartridge often remains in the chamber rather than being ejected, meaning shooters don’t leave behind shell casings or "brass" that investigators can use for forensics.
"That's just one of those things where you, if you've thought it through, you know that you can't leave any forensic evidence for investigators to work with," he said.
On Thursday, authorities said they recovered the rifle used to assassinate Kirk in the woods near the scene, where investigators believe the shooter abandoned it while fleeing to evade law enforcement.
"They're gonna be doing a lot of work on the forensics of this weapon as these firearms tend to have a history," he said, adding that investigators will try to trace where it was sold and how it changed hands.
"It’s possible the shooter used a straw buyer or another method to conceal their identity — but that’s the kind of legwork investigators will now have to do to track the shooter," Kempfer said.
Kempfer, who served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, said that the fatal shot was "not a particularly difficult" one but does take planning.
"You wouldn't have to be some expert sniper or something, hunters take this shot all the time," he said, adding that the distance, clear weather, and elevated position all worked to the shooter’s advantage.
European Parliament snubs request for Charlie Kirk minute of silence after assassination
Right-wing MEPs protest after vice-president cuts off Swedish lawmaker's attempted moment of silence
Right-wing MEPs protest after vice-president cuts off Swedish lawmaker's attempted moment of silence
Quote:Members of the European Parliament dramatically refused a request to honor Charlie Kirk via a minute's silence in the chamber Thursday.
Kirk, 31, was tragically killed Wednesday as he addressed students at Utah Valley University, sending shock waves across the nation.
Kirk was known for mobilizing young conservatives and was appearing on college campuses with Turning Point USA. President Donald Trump called him "the best of America."
Over in the E.U., Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the attack on Kirk when he was shot dead as "a deep wound for democracy."
Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers, of the European Conservatives and Reformists group asked colleagues Thursday to pause proceedings in the house and to "declare that our right to freedom of speech cannot be extinguished."
Weimer's wish was supported by members of Germany’s AfD and France’s Identity Liberties movement.
But European Parliament President Roberta Metsola denied the request and said procedural rules requiring tributes had to be formally submitted at the opening of a plenary session.
Since that session had already taken place on Monday, Metsola noted a tribute could still be scheduled for October.
When Weimers went on to give up his remaining speaking time for a moment of silence, Vice-President Katarina Barley cut him off, sparking desk-banging protests from right-wing lawmakers in the chamber.
"We have discussed this, and you know the president said no to a minute of silence," Barley said as centrist and left-leaning members clapped.
Outside the chamber, Hungarian Fidesz MEP András László accused Parliament of hypocrisy, pointing out it had previously honored George Floyd but refused Kirk.
Online, some lawmakers also posted,"I am Charlie" images, showing the slogan from the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack.
Metsola defended the decision as consistent with parliamentary procedure and offered condolences.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and young children — who were the bedrock of his life," she said.
Quote:A Florida anesthesiologist announced that she is “really glad that Charlie Kirk just got himself f*cking shot” and declared that “no one should give a f*ck that he’s dead,” before wiping her social media account.
Dr. Tatiana N. Atkins of Larkin Community Hospital in Miami posted the disgusting video to her Instagram account, @tati.gets.around, after the Turning Point USA founder was assassinated at a speaking event in Utah, before disabling her profile. The clip was uploaded by the Miami-based hosts of the Mostly Peaceful Latinas podcast:
[X Post]
An online health provider database states that Atkins has also practiced at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester, Virginia, and St. Lucie Hospital in Port St. Lucie, Florida, as recently as 2024.
“I’m just really glad that Charlie Kirk got himself f*cking shot, cause he’s right. Empathy is dangerous to society, so no one should give a f*ck that he’s dead,” the anesthesiologist began in her unhinged rant.
When someone in the background appeared to protest her remark, Atkins replied, “He said it. I’m just saying his words. All I’m doing is using his words. You can’t be mad at me for using his words.”
“Empathy is a new-wave thing and it’s very problematic. You right, you right, no empathy for you,” she continued. “Zero.”
Larkin Community Hospital has yet to comment on the remarks made by their employee.
Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking to a crowd of students at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead at 31 years old. The suspect is still at large.
Quote:The man police believe killed a retired Auburn University professor was arrested in 2023 and charged with a gun-related felony, but prosecutors later allowed him to plead guilty to several misdemeanors.
Police in Auburn, Alabama said 59-year-old Julie Gard Schnuelle was found dead in a wooded area of Kiesel Park on Saturday with injuries consistent with an assault. Police said officers responded to a 911 call reporting a deceased individual. Schnuelle was walking her dog at the time, which was found unharmed, according to AL.com.
26-year-old Harold Rashad Dabney III was arrested on two counts of capital murder in relation to the death of Schnuelle. In a news release, police said that Dabney was arrested on Sunday following an 8:30 a.m. call reporting a "suspicious person," noting that detectives "made observations that led them to believe Dabney had involvement with the homicide."
Dabney III allegedly stole Schnuelle's Ford F-150 which has since been recovered, police said.
An arrest warrant obtained by Fox News Digital indicates that Dabney was arrested on Dec. 27, 2023 in Virginia Beach, Virginia on a gun-related felony and several misdemeanors.
A Virginia Beach Police Department officer wrote Dabney, homeless at the time, was sleeping in his car in a business's parking lot when law enforcement was called for trespassing.
The officer wrote that he observed Dabney sleeping in the driver's seat, and said he was "f-cked up," refusing to speak any further. Police said when they searched the car, they found a "handgun concealed under driver seat" without a serial number, a "sawed off shotgun in the back seat," white pills and an open container.
Dabney had no prior criminal record before the Dec. 2023 incident and had a job several months prior, but was unemployed at the time, police wrote. Police noted Dabney "refused to swear/affirm to tell the truth for bail hearing."
'That is certainly on the table once he is indicted for this horrific crime," said US Attorney General Pam Bondi
Quote:Following President Donald Trump’s call for swift action, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared that the Justice Department may seek the death penalty for Iryna Zarutska’s killer.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Bondi shared that Zarutska’s alleged murderer, Decarlos Brown Jr., has been arrested and that he is being charged federally.
"We have arrested him. We are charging him federally because it was a murder on mass transit," said Bondi.
"This young woman died a horrific, horrific death, as we all saw, captured on video," she went on, adding, "It was horrible."
"The steps are, we charge, then we indict. Then, legally, we make the decision whether or not to seek the death penalty. That is certainly on the table once he is indicted for this horrific crime," explained Bondi.
Zarutska, a 23-year-old refugee from Ukraine, was stabbed to death while riding a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. The stabbing, captured on video, took place on Aug. 22 at around 10:30 p.m. as Zarutska was on her way home from work at a pizza restaurant. Still in her uniform, Zarutska sat down in front of a man, later identified as Brown, wearing a red hoodie. Moments later, the man pulled out a knife and stabbed her to death, with several bystanders looking on.
Brown, 34, was arrested shortly after the incident and hospitalized before being charged with first-degree murder. Police confirmed that Brown and Zarutska did not know one another.
Court records, previously reported by Fox News Digital, show Brown has a history of arrests dating back to 2011, including charges of felony larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon and communicating threats. Most charges were later dropped.
On Tuesday, Trump called for the government to respond to the spate of killings in the U.S. with decisive action, saying, "We have to be vicious just like they are."
He blamed Democratic leaders in major American cities for adopting "catch and release" policies "for thugs and killers."
"In Charlotte, North Carolina, we saw the results of these policies when a 23-year-old woman who came here from Ukraine met her bloody end on a public train," said the president. "She was slaughtered by a deranged monster who was roaming free after 14 prior arrests."
"We cannot allow a depraved criminal element of violent repeat offenders to continue spreading destruction and death throughout our country. We have to respond with force and strength," said Trump.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, "The ANIMAL who so violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine, who came to America searching for peace and safety, should be given a ‘Quick’ (there is no doubt!) Trial, and only awarded THE DEATH PENALTY. There can be no other option!"
Quote:The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland, is in lockdown after receiving threats towards the base and "out of an abundance of caution," according to a statement posted to the City of Annapolis X account.
Newsweek reached out to the USNA by email on Thursday evening for further information.
Why It Matters
The warning follows several weeks of active shooter reports at college campuses across the country. Authorities in each of those cases have largely determined that no active threat is present.
However, the assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, has authorities and officials across the country on high alert.
The USNA is located on the Severn River, with around 4,400 students—referred to as midshipmen—enrolled.
What To Know
"Naval Support Activity Annapolis, in coordination with local law enforcement, is currently responding to reports of threats made to the Naval Academy," the statement says. "The base is on lockdown out of an abundance of caution."
"This is a developing situation and we will provide updates as they become available," the statement continued. "Please avoid the area until further notice."
Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson, citing sources inside the Naval Academy, reported that the lockdown is due to a midshipman who was kicked out of the school and returned to campus with a weapon.
Local law enforcement officers responded to the campus, and the campus brigade commander ordered students to "follow their directions," according to the New York Times.
Quote:DETROIT — A young Chinese scientist interrogated for hours after an international flight to Detroit and held in jail for three months was sentenced to time served Wednesday for illegally shipping biological material to the U.S. that nonetheless wasn’t a threat to the public.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Leitman acknowledged that federal agents have a critical role in stopping “bad actors” from trying to get “bad stuff” into the country. But he also noted that Chengxuan Han, who was headed to a one-year job at a University of Michigan lab, doesn’t appear to fit that category.
“That’s the appropriate balance to strike here,” the judge said in declining to keep Han locked up for another three months as the government had suggested.
Han cried as she spoke to the judge in Mandarin and expressed regret for a “very painful” lesson. She said her career will be “destroyed” when she soon returns to China.
“Government agents are doing their duties here. ... I really have no intention to harm anybody and create a security hazard,” Han said through a translator.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit has used unflattering language in promoting the case against Han, even referring to her as an “alien from Wuhan,” a Chinese city that became notorious as the possible source for the global spread of COVID-19.
Han is “not some sort of Chinese operative,” defense attorney Sara Garber said in a court filing.
Han, who is in her late 20s, pleaded no contest to smuggling and making false statements. Before her arrival in the U.S., authorities said she made three shipments to someone in Ann Arbor, Michigan, including a book with a hidden envelope that contained filter paper with 28 shapes containing plasmids, which are found naturally in bacteria.
“Hello! This is a fun letter with interesting patterns. I hope you can enjoy the pleasure within it,” Han wrote.
Han was also accused of sending petri dishes that contained nematode worms, known as C. Elegans. Authorities said the packages were not properly labeled and that Han didn’t have approval to ship them.
“C. Elegans is easy to obtain, easy to study, nonharmful,” Garber said.
She said Han’s research focuses on how organisms detect light, touch and temperature.
“This is not a case of smuggling in some sort of virus or a crop-destroying something or other,” the judge said. “From what I can tell, this material was not a threat at all.”
Han’s case is one of two involving Chinese scientists and the University of Michigan. Yunqing Jian is charged with conspiring with her boyfriend, another scientist from China, to bring a toxic fungus into the U.S. Fusarium graminearum can attack wheat, barley, maize and rice.
It is already found in the East and Upper Midwest, and scientists have been studying it for decades. Jian’s case is pending.
Quote:Investigators looking into why about 75 containers tumbled off of a cargo ship Tuesday in the Port of Long Beach still don’t know the exact cause of the mishap.
The accident on the ship, Mississippi, resulted in a light oil spill, a sprained ankle and waterlogged cargo.
A light oil sheen, a sprained ankle and waterlogged cargo were among the damage reported when approximately 75 cargo containers tumbled off a stationed vessel at the Port of Long Beach on Tuesday morning.
The U.S. Coast Guard, which is leading the investigation into the incident along with the National Transportation Safety Board, provided an update along with Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and other officials Wednesday afternoon but offered no definite explanation for the cause of the unusual mishap.
The containers, which carried general cargo such as clothes, furniture, shoes and electronics, mysteriously fell overboard while the vessel was “in the process of offloading” at Pier G around 9 a.m., according to U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy.
The containers crashed into the water as well as struck and damaged a smaller clean-air barge connected to the large ship named Mississippi.
The containers were seen floating in the port Tuesday morning. Members of the Long Beach Police and Fire departments used boats to help corral the giant shipping crates.
“It was a miracle that no one suffered any major injuries, especially those individuals who were on the emissions collection barge at the time when the containers fell on top of it,” Crecy said.
Long Beach Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan said fire units responded at 9:06 a.m. and found that several containers were also leaning against a gantry crane.
Fire personnel immediately established an isolation perimeter, Buchanan said.
Although initial reports Tuesday said there were no injuries, Richardson confirmed that one worker aboard the barge sprained an ankle fleeing the falling containers.
Quote:NEW YORK — Former U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez’s wife told a judge that her husband was “not the man I thought he was” before she was sentenced Thursday to 4½ years in prison for selling the powerful New Jersey politician’s influence in exchange for bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car.
U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein sentenced Nadine Menendez, 58, after she was convicted in April of colluding from 2018-23 with her husband, the former Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a variety of corrupt schemes, some involving assisting the Egyptian government.
Sobbing as she addressed the judge shortly before she was sentenced, Nadine Menendez described her husband as a manipulative liar.
“I put my life in his hands and he strung my like a puppet,” she said. “The blindfold is off. I now know he’s not my savior. He’s not the man I thought he was.”
Stein told the defendant that she wasn’t the person she was portrayed as during last year’s trial of her husband and two New Jersey businessmen, when the judge said she was painted “as manipulative, hungry for money and the true force behind the conspiracies.”
But he said she also wasn’t the “innocent observer of what was happening around you,” as she was portrayed by her lawyer at her trial.
“You knew what you were doing. Your role was purposeful,” he said.
When she spoke, Nadine Menendez partly blamed her husband, saying she was duped by his power and stature and that she felt compelled to do whatever he wanted, such as calling or meeting with certain people.
“I would never have imagined someone of his ranking putting me in this position,” she said, though she acknowledged that in retrospect, she was a grown woman and should have known better.
Before the hearing, Bob Menendez submitted a letter to the judge saying he regretted that he didn’t fully preview what his lawyer said about his wife during his trial and in closing arguments.
“To suggest that Nadine was money hungry or in financial need, and therefore would solicit others for help, is simply wrong,” he wrote.
In addition to prison time, Stein sentenced Nadine Menendez to three years of supervised release. He said he granted her leniency in part because of the trial she endured, her difficult childhood in Lebanon, her abusive romantic partners, her health conditions and her age.
Stein said a prison term was important for general deterrence purposes: “People have to understand there are consequences.”
Nadine Menendez won’t have to surrender to prison until next summer. Stein set a reporting date of July 10, accommodating a defense request that she be allowed to remain free to complete necessary medical procedures before she heads behind bars. Federal prosecutors did not object to the request.
Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of at least seven years.
LATIN AMERICA
Quote:A majority of a panel of Brazil's Supreme Court justices voted Thursday to convict former President Jair Bolsonaro of attempting a coup to remain in power after his 2022 electoral defeat, a decision that could carry decades in prison and deepen the country's political divisions.
Three of the five justices on the special panel ruled that Bolsonaro, 70, was guilty on multiple counts tied to efforts to cling to office following his loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Justice Cármen Lúcia cast her vote Thursday, siding with two colleagues in support of conviction. Her decision came one day after Justice Luiz Fux dissented, voting to acquit Bolsonaro of all charges.
One justice has yet to deliver a vote. Once the panel reaches its conclusion, it will set Bolsonaro's sentence, which prosecutors say could amount to several decades behind bars.
Why It Matters
The case has also drawn international attention, particularly from Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro, recently linked a proposed 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports to the legal proceedings, denouncing the trial as a "witch hunt." Observers have warned that the United States may impose sanctions on Brazil if Bolsonaro is convicted, adding strain to an already-fragile diplomatic relationship.
"I watched the trial, I know him very well," Trump told reporters outside the White House on Thursday. "As a foreign leader, I thought he was a good president. It is very surprising that this could happen. It's very much what they tried to do with me, but they didn't get away with it at all. He was a good man, and I don't see that happening.'"
What To Know
Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, has been under house arrest and did not attend the hearings. He has denied any wrongdoing and has relied on his lawyers to represent him in court. His legal team vowed to appeal to the full Supreme Court, which is composed of 11 justices.
The trial has sharply divided Brazilian society. Supporters of the prosecution argue that the far-right leader endangered the country's democratic institutions, while his loyal base has staged street demonstrations, claiming the charges are politically motivated.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is presiding over the trial, said this week that Bolsonaro orchestrated a coup plot and led a criminal organization. On Thursday, Lúcia also voted to convict him of organized crime, in addition to the coup-related charges.
Bolsonaro faced five total charges, including attempting to overthrow Brazil's democratic system, participation in an armed criminal organization, and instigating violence that threatened state assets and heritage sites.
Prosecutors said the former president sought to illegally retain power after losing the 2022 election to Lula, a veteran leftist who returned to the presidency after previously serving two terms.
Despite mounting legal troubles, Bolsonaro remains an influential force in Brazilian politics. Last year, he was barred from running for office until 2030 in a separate case, but allies say he is already grooming a successor to challenge Lula in next year's general election.
For now, Bolsonaro's conviction by a majority of the panel marks the most serious legal setback yet for the polarizing leader, raising questions not only about his political future but also about Brazil's ability to move past one of the most turbulent elections in its modern history.
EUROPE
Quote:Peter Mandelson has been withdrawn as Britain's ambassador to the United States with immediate effect following revelations about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Leaked emails published by The Sun newspaper showed Mandelson telling Epstein in 2008 to "fight for early release" as he awaited sentencing for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
The veteran Labour politician also wrote a handwritten message to Epstein in his 50th birthday book, which was released by the House Oversight Committee this week, in which he described the disgraced pedofile as "my best pal."
Stephen Doughty, a foreign office minister, told the Commons: "Mr. Speaker, in light of additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw him as ambassador to the United States.
"The emails show, Mr. Speaker, that the depth and extent of Lord Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment.
"In particular, Mr Speaker, Lord Mandelson's suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein's first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged, is new information."
Mandelson Told Epstein: 'Fight for Early Release'
In the emails released on Wednesday, Mandelson told Epstein: "Your friends stay with you and love you."
"I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened," Mandelson wrote.
"I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain. You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can."
Mandelson, who took up the prestigious ambassadorship earlier this year has admitted knowing Epstein well and told The Sun newspaper that his comments in the birthday book were "very embarrassing to see and to read."
He said his comments were written before Epstein was indicted and that he did not have a business relationship with him.
Starmer Said He Had 'Confidence' in Mandelson
On Wednesday, Keir Starmer, the British prime minister backed Mandelson, 71.
Starmer said Mandelson has "repeatedly expressed his deep regret" for his friendship with Epstein.
"I have confidence in him, and he is playing an important role in the U.K.-U.S. relationship," he said.
It is thought the decision to dismiss Mandelson was made on Thursday morning at a meeting between Starmer and his foreign secretary, after reviewing the emails.
It has been a difficult month so far for Starmer, following the resignation of his deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, last week for underpaying tax on a property purchase.
Mandelson is no stranger to controversy, and twice resigned from Tony Blair's governments: firstly in 1998 over an undeclared interest-free loan; and 2001 over accusations of using his position to influence a passport decision.
Why do they keep picking Mandelson over and over again? It should be very self-evident that he's a troublemaker.
MIDDLE EAST
Quote:ran has set a new condition for its nuclear oversight agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as it says it is redefining how it will allow inspections and monitoring, following recent attacks on its nuclear facilities.
Iran and the IAEA finalized on Tuesday a technical agreement in Cairo to resume inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. However, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that a new agreement reached with the U.N. watchdog could be nullified.
Newsweek has reached out to Iran's foreign ministry and the IAEA for comment.
Why It Matters
Inspectors remain restricted from accessing nuclear sites except Bushehr, to oversee fuel change. Tehran says the new terms emerged from recent attacks on its nuclear facilities, after which it suspended cooperation with the agency and inspectors pulled out.
Iran passed a law suspending mandatory cooperation and now requires its Supreme National Security Council approval for all inspections.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told the Board of Governors in Vienna on Monday that domestic legislation cannot override Iran's commitments to the agency.
What To Know
"This document and its continuation are conditional on no hostile action being taken against the Islamic Republic of Iran. For instance, if the so-called snapback mechanism is activated, the implementation of this document will also be halted," Araghchi told Iranian media.
The minister was referring to possible sanctions that may be imposed as a result of the mechanism recently invoked on August 28 by E3 countries—France, Germany and the U.K.
The new arrangement reflected both Iran's concerns and the agency's technical requirement, according to both Araghchi and Grossi, who described the move as a step into the right direction.
The document provides technical matters related to the process of inspections for all nuclear facilities in Iran.
The Iranian official also said that the framework for collaboration with the IAEA, hinges on the "the avoidance of unlawful and provocative steps," in a Wednesday post on his X account.
For several decades, Iran's nuclear program has caused international concern. Iran has said that its nuclear program is peaceful, but it is the only non-nuclear-armed nation enriching uranium to a high level.
And in June, a prominent Chinese commentator said Iran's leadership should reconsider its nuclear ambitions.
Iranian nuclear activities, even if they are for civilian use, "will be difficult to continue. From a realist perspective, Iran should rethink its nuclear path," said former Global Times editor Hu Xijin, who led the nationalistic state-run newspaper from 2005-2021.
UKRAINE WAR
Quote:Poland has restricted the airspace in the east of the country for the next three months following Russia's drone breach of the NATO member.
A day after Warsaw said it shot down Russian drones which flew into Polish airspace during an overnight bombardment of Ukraine on Wednesday, Poland's Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) announced restriction measures would come into effect from Thursday.
Why It Matters
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski accused Moscow of deliberately violating sovereign airspace after Russian drones crossed into the NATO country before being shot down.
This was the first time a member of the alliance had engaged Russian military assets over its territory, and the largest drone breach of NATO airspace.
Russian officials have denied wrongdoing, but the move to restrict airspace along the east of Poland illustrates how tensions have spiked on NATO's eastern flank and the security risk posed by the drones and missiles Moscow launches toward Ukraine.
What To Know
After a day of concerned responses globally about the implications of Russian drones breaching a NATO member, PANSA issued a statement on Thursday that airspace in the eastern part of the country would be restricted
It said that at the request of Poland's armed forces, air traffic restrictions would be in place until midnight December 9 in the eastern part of the country known as restricted zone EP R129.
It posted a map of the region affected, which runs from Poland's northeastern border with Lithuania, south along Belarus toward Ukraine and Slovakia.
The restrictions would apply between sunset and sunrise, except for military aircraft. The statement said that between sunrise and sunset, the no-fly zone would apply except for manned aircraft which had filed a flight plan and had a transponder switched on.
Russian drones and missiles are usually launched overnight and NATO allies have accused Moscow of sending manned aircraft or turning transponders off to buzz allied airspace.
The group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) told Newsweek that since the start of the war, there had been at least 50 airspace violations of countries on Ukraine's western borders, mainly crashes involving stray Russian and Ukrainian drones and missiles.
But before Wednesday, only four incidents had occurred in Poland during the war, with Romanian and Moldova most affected, although stray drones were detected in Latvia in September 2024 and fellow NATO members Lithuania and Estonia in July and August this year, ACLED said.
Electronic warfare systems used by both sides to take drones off course and an escalating air war may increase the danger of direct military engagement between Russia and NATO, ACLED senior analyst Nichita Gurcov said.
In comments sent to Newsweek, International Crisis Group's Europe and Central Asia program director Olga Oliker said that NATO states may now be less inclined to tolerate incursions by drones and more likely to seek effective responses which could prompt Moscow "to exercise greater caution about straying into allied airspace."
The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement saying it had not planned to hit any targets in Poland while Andrei Ordash, Russia's charge d'affaires in Warsaw, rejected claims the drones shot down in Polish territory were of Russian origin.
Quote:fter 19 Russian drones crossed into NATO member Poland early Wednesday, there are uncomfortable, pressing questions for the alliance about how well it could intercept a much larger Russian drone or missile attack.
It is, ultimately, unprepared, analysts say. No one but Israel has built up the capability to defend against a large-scale, sustained aerial attack, said Sam Cranny-Evans, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a major British defense think tank.
Observers say the problem isn't the quality of the systems, it's the quantity. Stockpiles have been funneled to Ukraine for years, and existing factories are hard pressed to more quickly churn out new equipment like interceptor missiles. On top of that are long waits between ordering kit and receiving it and discomfort in Europe over how reliant it is on the U.S.
"Europe has individually capable defensive systems, but nowhere near enough volume to defend itself in the event of a major and protracted war," Matthew Savill, the director of military sciences at RUSI, told Newsweek.
European countries have broadly pledged to increase military spending, although nations forming NATO's eastern flank, close to Russia, have more keenly felt Moscow's presence and traditionally spent a higher percentage of their GDP on defense. By 2030, there may have been enough of a "meaningful increase" to mean Europe can properly defend itself, Cranny-Evans told Newsweek.
"It will take time," Savill said, as well as investment in cheaper systems to deal with drones and other types of threats, like loitering munitions.
What Is a Drone Wall?
The type of air defenses NATO would use to intercept a large-scale drone attack is different from how the alliance would take out incoming ballistic or cruise missiles.
But the number of Russian drones that crossed into Poland, and how far they reached, adds a new urgency to the mammoth task of working out how NATO would take out many drones at once without turning to expensive air defense missiles, which can cost millions of dollars apiece. Cheap drones, like Russia has used in Ukraine, come at a fraction of the price.
Andrius Kubilius, the European commissioner for defense and space, said on Wednesday, shortly after the Russian drones crossed into Poland, that "we must urgently develop" a "drone wall" across the "entire EU Eastern flank."
The idea of a drone wall is essentially about layered defenses, from interceptor drones to cannons and missiles, plus electronic warfare and attempts to jam or spoof incoming drones.
Each layer of defenses would have a go at taking out an incoming threat, said U.K.-based drone expert Steve Wright.
"We need to step up the defense," Wright told Newsweek. But "there isn't a silver bullet," he added.
Many companies now are looking for new ways to make sure drones don't hit their targets. DroneShield, a mostly Australian-owned counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) company, say "the problem is getting more complex."
"You really need to look at it as multiple layers that you need to defend against," Matt McCrann, the company's U.S. CEO, told Newsweek. DroneShield says it has "close to 50" national militaries as customers and said in June it signed a $40 million deal to provide its technology to an unnamed European military.
An increasingly dominant tactic is using interceptor drones to smash other drones from the sky before they can reach their destination. Johannes Pinl, who heads defense company MARSS, said their hit-to-kill interceptor drone is "like a knife, cutting through the incoming targets" without using explosives or fuel for tens of thousands of dollars.
The MARSS interceptor drone would be one of the first defenses to engage drones, like the Shahed or Gerbera drones Russia frequently deploys, from roughly 5 kilometers away, Pinl told Newsweek. Pinl said the interceptor drone would be best suited to shielding cities and critical infrastructure from drone attacks.
"The issue with Europe and NATO [is] they're five years behind," Pinl said. "This technology, this drone wall, is deployed in the Middle East. They put budgets aside for this drone wall, and they've silently built up this drone wall.
"They are prepared. But Europe has done "nothing."
Quote:A Russian government newspaper said Europe's condemnation of Moscow's drones entering Polish airspace was a ploy to pressure U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon plans for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
An op-ed in Rossiyskaya Gazeta painted the global outrage around Russian drones breaching the NATO member's territory as part of the "demonization" of Moscow, as it also accused Poland of "provocation" with its rhetoric.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and the Polish Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
A diplomatic storm continues after Poland said it downed up to four of the 19 drones fired into its territory by Russia on Wednesday in the first engagement between a NATO member and Moscow since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Moscow rejected accusations that it intentionally targeted Poland and Kremlin propagandists have pushed the line that Russia is being unfairly accused, as NATO allies express concerns about an escalation in the war.
What To Know
Rossiyskaya Gazeta is the official Russian government newspaper and is thought to reflect Kremlin thinking.
An op-ed headlined, "Why Warsaw inflated a scandal over alleged Russian drones," decried the accusations Moscow has faced from Poland and its allies.
The piece by Yuri Kogalov and Ivan Sysoev reiterated Moscow's position that no strikes on Poland were planned, no explosives in the drones were found and there was no confirmation that the devices were even Russian.
The piece said Europe's leaders "need an escalation of the Ukrainian conflict, a further demonization of Russia, and a reason to increase pressure on Trump to abandon efforts for a peaceful settlement."
Other pro-Kremlin newspapers also took aim at the West, using the word "provocation" against Europe and Ukraine that Moscow is accused of.
A piece in Moskovsky Komsomolets was headlined "a big provocation in Poland—they are trying to turn the SMO [special military operation] into a pan-European war."
It also said origin of the drones has not been proved and the controversy could suit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who wants the direct participation of the West in the war.
It said that Kyiv's goal "is to force Trump to change his political course" and referred to U.S. Vice President JD Vance's comments on Wednesday that the administration saw no reason to isolate Russia economically. As such, Zelensky "desperately needs" Trump to make decisions "that he does not want to make at all," the paper added.
On Russian state TV, 60 Minutes presenter Olga Skabeyeva said that Trump is more interested in economic deals with Russia than punishing it.
Kremlin mouthpiece, Izvestia, quoted military expert Viktor Litovkin as saying that the drones that entered Poland on Wednesday could have been a "provocation by Ukraine or one of the Baltic states."
Another military expert, Alexei Leonkov, told the same paper that "the provocation was needed" so that Ukraine's allies could pressure Trump to draw the United States back into the conflict, or at least provide Europe with security guarantees, which Moscow has rejected as part of any peace deal.
Quote:Russian officials allied with Vladimir Putin have responded to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, by blaming the left and Ukraine supporters for political violence in the U.S.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Kirill Dmitriev, a key Kremlin negotiator with the Trump administration over Ukraine, weighed in on the shooting of Kirk, founder of the right-leaning youth organization Turning Point USA.
Kirk was popular in Russia for his anti-NATO stance and criticism of Ukraine's President Zelensky. Medvedev linked the murder to supporters of Kyiv while Dmitriev reposted a video showing alleged leftists "in full celebration mode over Kirk getting shot."
A manhunt for the killer is ongoing and no motive has been confirmed. The Russian officials' posts come amid an outpouring of condemnation across the political divide for the killing of Kirk.
Mark Shanahan, a U.S. politics expert from the University of Surrey in England told Newsweek that Kirk's killing showed "an already febrile America is now even more on the edge."
Why It Matters
Kirk, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump and key MAGA figure, had been critical of Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he once described as a "puppet of the CIA" and had previously said that "the political left is normalizing violence."
Medvedev has used social media to attack the West and push Kremlin narratives condemning its support for Ukraine against Russia's full-scale invasion. His latest post, as well as Dmitriev's, appear to exploit U.S. political divisions, particularly around Ukraine.
What To Know
Kirk was fatally shot during his "American Comeback Tour" on Thursday at Utah Valley University in what officials are calling a "political assassination."
American political figures on both the left and right condemned the killing, including Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Medvedev, who was Russian president between 2008 and 2012 and is now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, linked Kirk's murder to what he called "a variety of left-wing liberal scum who support Banderite" Kyiv.
Quote:A United States B-2 stealth bomber conducted an anti-ship weapon test in northern Norway near Russia's Arctic waters, demonstrating its precision maritime strike capabilities.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
Facing growing maritime threats from adversaries including China—which operates the world's largest navy by hull count—and Russia, the U.S. has been enhancing its ship-sinking capabilities by developing advanced weapons such as the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) and modified precision-guided bombs known as QUICKSINK.
The bomb-drop test, conducted in the Norwegian Sea off Andøya Island in northern Norway on September 3, came as the U.S. and its NATO allies formed a naval task group to conduct an operation in the nearby Barents Sea—regarded as Russia's Arctic doorstep. The allied vessels were observed being shadowed by Russian military forces.
What To Know
The U.S. Air Force announced on Tuesday that the B-2 bomber—which participated in the large-scale airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in June—conducted a long-range strike scenario using the QUICKSINK maritime weapon to defeat a surface vessel.
Andøya Island is approximately 366 miles west of the Norway-Russia land border.
Prior to the bomber's departure from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, airmen prepared two types of QUICKSINK weapons: the 500-pound GBU-38 and the 2,000-pound GBU-31 bombs, both part of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) family.
By being equipped with a new seeker, a modified JDAM can conduct precision strikes on static and moving maritime targets, providing what the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory describes as an "air-delivered, low-cost surface vessel defeat capability."
"QUICKSINK is an answer to the need to quickly neutralize menacing maritime threats over vast areas around the world," the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory said.
Photos released by the Norwegian military—which deployed four F-35 stealth fighter jets and a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft for the test—show the U.S. bomber dropping a single bomb, identified by defense outlet The War Zone as the GBU-31 variant.
One of the Norwegian military's photos—taken through a submarine periscope—shows a hit on the ship target. Photos released by the U.S. Air Force indicate that both the modified GBU-31 and GBU-38 QUICKSINK bombs were loaded onto the bomber.
The test in Norway marked at least the third time the QUICKSINK weapon has been tested with the B-2 bomber, which dropped a 2,000-pound variant during a naval war game in Hawaii in July 2024 and used a 500-pound variant for a test in Florida.
CHINA
Quote:China continued expanding its maritime presence in the Pacific by deploying two coast guard vessels—one reportedly carrying a drone—for a fishery law enforcement patrol.
Newsweek has reached out to China's Foreign Ministry for further comment via email.
Why It Matters
As part of the country's rapid military buildup, the China Coast Guard (CCG) operates the world's largest maritime law enforcement fleet, with more than 150 vessels over 1,000 tons, according to a Pentagon report. The fleet includes former naval corvettes and two 12,000-ton "monster" ships, the biggest coast guard vessels in the world.
Like the Chinese navy, the CCG has expanded its presence beyond East Asian waters in recent years, including a joint exercise and patrol with its Russian counterpart in the North Pacific last year. Since 2015, the CCG has also deployed vessels to the North Pacific to conduct fishery law enforcement in accordance with an international treaty.
What To Know
The CCG announced that two vessels—hull numbers 1303 and 1305—departed from Shanghai in East China on Wednesday for a fishery law enforcement patrol mission in international waters of the North Pacific. The deployment is scheduled for 31 days.
Citing photos released by the CCG, @type36512, a Japan-based Chinese military observer on the social media platform X, noted that the vessel 1303 appeared to be carrying a drone on its rear deck, while a helicopter was stationed on the vessel 1305.
This two-vessel deployment marked the 10th time the CCG has been dispatched to fulfill China's international obligations under United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/215 and the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean, according to a statement.
The UN resolution addresses large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing and its impact on marine resources, while the convention seeks to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fisheries in the North Pacific and to protect marine ecosystems.
The convention applies to North Pacific waters beyond national jurisdiction. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a coastal state can claim territorial waters extending up to 13.8 miles and an exclusive economic zone up to 230 miles.
By conducting vessel boarding and inspection operations to crack down on illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing, the CCG said this mission would help maintain order in fisheries in international waters and promote the sustainable use of fishery resources.
Quote:China has announced the creation of a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, escalating tensions over the South China Sea flashpoint in a move that drew a sharp protest from the Philippines.
Why It Matters
The Philippines is locked in a bitter territorial dispute with China, which claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea—including features such as Scarborough Shoal that lie well within the U.S. ally's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
China seized effective control of the traditional fishing ground, in 2012 following a standoff with the Philippines. In recent years, the area has seen repeated maritime confrontations as Beijing seeks to block Philippine patrols and missions to resupply local fishermen.
One such encounter last month saw a Chinese coast guard vessel heavily damaged after colliding with a Chinese naval destroyer while both were pursuing a Philippine coast guard ship.
...
What To Know
China's State Council on Wednesday said it had approved the formation of a "Scarborough Shoal National Nature Reserve," calling it an important step to ensure the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the shoal's natural ecosystem.
In a separate notice, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration released an image with geographic coordinates outlining the planned boundaries of the reserve, spanning its northeastern side and covering roughly one-third of the coral reef-rimmed feature.
On Thursday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs condemned the announcement, calling it an "illegitimate and unlawful action by China, as it clearly infringes upon the rights and interests of the Philippines in accordance with international law."
The department said the country would file a formal diplomatic protest and urged Beijing to respect Manila's "sovereignty and jurisdiction" over the reef.
Responding to Manila's statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters Thursday: "The scope of the Philippines' territory has long been defined by a series of international treaties, and Huangyan Dao has never been part of it."
Lin called on the Philippines to "immediately stop its infringements, provocations, and reckless hype to avoid adding complicating factors to the maritime situation."
Huangyan Dao is China's term for Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippines refers to it as Bajo De Masinloc.
In a landmark 2016 ruling, a Hague-based arbitral tribunal classified Scarborough Shoal as a rock under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, meaning it does not generate its own exclusive economic zone. However, the shoal lies well within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile EEZ from Luzon.
The ruling largely rejected China's sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea. Beijing did not participate in the proceedings and maintains the decision is invalid.
Quote:Beijing has responded to commentary on its recent "Victory Day" military parade, during which it showcased a wide array of weaponry, including its nuclear triad capabilities.
Why It Matters
The September 3 parade commemorated the 80th anniversary of the official end of World War II in the Pacific. It was presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping and attended by leaders from more than 20 countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
Analysts viewed the martial display as a signal to the United States and its allies of China's growing military capabilities and the progress the People's Liberation Army has made toward Xi's goal of building a "world-class military" by mid-century.
...
What To Know
In a Wednesday press release, Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson Wu Qian said the military hardware on display last week "demonstrated the comprehensive combat capabilities of the PLA in realistic training and exercises."
He added: "Their appearance shows that our capabilities for defense are improving, but our strategic intention has not changed: We will never seek hegemony, never engage in expansion, never initiate aggression."
Wu emphasized that the parade "was not targeted at any specific country" and said a strong Chinese military supports peaceful development.
Along with hypersonic missiles, a range of new drone types, cyber warfare systems and a laser weapon, five new types of nuclear-capable systems were showcased during the parade. They included three silo-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles—the DF-5C, DF-31BJ, and DF-61—as well as the air-launched JL-1 ballistic missile, said to have a range of nearly 2,000 miles, and the submarine-launched JL-3.
Analysts noted that many of the systems on parade remain untested in combat, as China has not been involved in a full-fledged conflict since 1979.
However, the Pentagon is increasingly concerned about China's expanding missile capabilities—particularly its vast missile fleet, which poses a significant threat to U.S. naval forces in the event of conflict in the region—and its nuclear stockpile.
China is one of only four countries—with the U.S., Russia and India—with a full nuclear triad and ranks third globally in total warheads.
The arsenal is growing rapidly, believed to have reached 600 warheads this year—more than double its 2019 count—according to estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
What People Are Saying
Alexander Neil, Singapore-based security analyst, told Reuters: "For all the operational questions that surround some of these new elements, China was sending a message of technological advance and military strength on all fronts—there is indeed a lot for rival defense planners to get their heads around."
Ankit Panda, a nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in an analysis of the parade posted to X: "As U.S.-China relations become more difficult, the nuclear dimension of competition between the two countries will grow more important."
"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
