Quote:FBI special agents on Sunday arrested dual U.S.-German citizen Joseph Neumayer at JFK International Airport in New York in connection with an attempt to destroy the Branch Office of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a Sunday press release.
Why It Matters
Tensions remain high following the deaths of two Israeli embassy staff members who were shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., last week.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the suspect "a vile antisemitic murderer," and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called him "depraved" for his act.
This occurs as Israel has launched a new campaign in Gaza targeting the Palestinian militant group Hamas, reigniting tensions across the Middle East. Israel's campaign in Gaza since Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, the Associated Press reported, citing local health authorities. In Hamas' attack on Israel, 1,200 people were killed and some 250 were taken hostage.
What To Know
According to a complaint unsealed in the Eastern District of New York, Neumayer is alleged to have left a dark-colored backpack next to the embassy building on May 19, having arrived in Israel in April. He was initially arrested in Israel and transferred to U.S. custody on Sunday.
"This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump's life," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. "The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law."
Neumeyer is alleged to have spit on a security guard as he walked past, left a backpack, and fled as the security guard failed to detain him. Inside the backpack, authorities discovered three Molotov cocktails, which contained flammable fluid.
Authorities tracked Neumeyer to his hotel where he was arrested.
Neumeyer's social media revealed that earlier on May 19, he posted, "join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f--k the west."
Other social media posts from an account believed to be used by Neumeyer revealed his threats to assassinate President Donald Trump, the DOJ wrote in its press release.
If convicted, Neumeyer faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine in the amount of $250,000.
Quote:Amid its ongoing restructuring efforts, CVS plans on closing hundreds more stores in 2025, which the company says will streamline operations and help it adapt to shifting consumer needs.
Why Is CVS Closing Locations?
In its recent annual report, filed in February, CVS announced that it would be closing 271 retail stores in 2025 as part of its "enterprise-wide restructuring plan intended to streamline and simplify the organization."
This follows the closure of around 900 locations between 2022 and 2024. A spokesperson for CVS told Newsweek that these closures will enable the company to optimize its "existing stores and pharmacies."
The spokesperson said that the closures were based on several factors, including "population shifts, consumer buying patterns, store and pharmacy density, pharmacy care access, and community health needs." This will enable the company to better meet customers' needs and was not a response to industry pressures.
Where Are CVS Closing Locations?
CVS has not released a list of locations that will be closed amid this strategic realignment, and declined to provide any details of which states or cities may be affected.
However, according to consumer-focused website The Krazy Coupon Lady, citing local news sources, 34 CVS locations have either already closed or announced scheduled closures in 2025:
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Quote:Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new plan on Wednesday to "aggressively revoke" student visas issued to international students from China.
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The Trump administration has cracked down on Ivy League institutions and sought to revoke the student visas of several international students since Trump took office.
Among other things, President Donald Trump and other officials have accused Harvard University and Columbia University of not doing enough to combat antisemitism on campus grounds amid student demonstrations protesting Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Trump's administration also tried to pull approval for Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which allows the university to enroll international students. A judge later halted the administration's efforts.
The administration has also temporarily paused all new student and exchange visitor visa interviews at U.S. consulates and embassies. Amid the pause, the White House is considering implementing a new policy that would require foreign student visa applicants to go through a social media vetting.
Quote:Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday that gun violence in the state has reached its lowest level since 2006, when the state began tracking this data.
In communities participating in the state's Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative, the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) reported a 15 percent decline in shooting victims and a 9 percent decline in shootings resulting in injury from January 1 to April 30 compared to the same period last year, the governor's office said in a press release.
Why It Matters
The data comes from 28 police departments outside of New York City participating in the GIVE initiative. These police departments report around 90 percent of violent crimes involving firearms outside New York City.
The initiative aims at reducing shootings and other firearm-related crimes by providing state funding to local law enforcement agencies for equipment, overtime and personnel. It also provides training and technical assistance to those agencies.
What To Know
The police departments involved in the GIVE initiative include Albany Police Department, Binghamton Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Jamestown Police Department, Elmira Police Department, Poughkeepsie Police Department, Amherst Police Department and Buffalo Police Department.
Cheektowaga Police Department, Lackawanna Police Department, Watertown Police Department, Greece Police Department, Rochester Police Department, Hempstead Police Department, Nassau County Police Department and Niagara Falls Police Department also participate in the GIVE initiative.
Other law enforcement agencies following the GIVE initiative are Utica Police Department, Syracuse Police Department, Middletown Police Department, Newburgh Police Department, Troy Police Department, Spring Valley Police Department, Schenectady Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Ithaca Police Department, Kingston Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department and Yonkers Police Department.
Quote:Massive hailstones, described as "DVD-sized" and edging close to "gargantuan" in magnitude, battered parts of Texas as severe thunderstorms ripped through the region over Memorial Day weekend.
Reports confirmed hail reaching nearly 6 inches in diameter in locations including Afton and Menard, Texas, putting the area at the center of a rare and dangerous weather event.
Why It Matters
This outbreak of exceptionally large hail posed significant risks to residents, property, and infrastructure across Texas, a state already accustomed to severe weather.
The event coincided with the busy Memorial Day weekend, disrupting holiday plans and triggering warnings across the Plains and South.
What To Know
On Monday, MyRadarWX senior meteorologist Matthew Cappucci posted some of the hailstone measurements on X, formerly Twitter.
"When it comes to GIANT hail, there's no place like Texas! Texas got MELON-SIZED hail both yesterday AND today!" Cappucci posted. "Anything over 4.72 inches is considered 'DVD-sized.' Anything over 6 inches is a rare category called 'gargantuan.' Yes, that's the real term!"
Researchers with the In-situ Collaborative Experiment for the Collection of Hail In the Plains (ICECHIP) project, funded by the National Science Foundation and led by Northern Illinois University, traveled alongside storm chasers to document and measure hail.
Quote:Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is among the top fundraisers in New York City's mayoral race despite the loss of some matching funds, according to the latest campaign finance data.
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New York's mayoral primary will be held in June, and whoever wins the Democratic nomination will be heavily favored ahead of the November general election, as the city is reliably Democratic. Still, some of the city's Hispanic and Asian communities drifted toward Republicans in last year's presidential race. This year's city elections will test whether Democrats are able to win back those voters, or if Republicans can build off of President Donald Trump's gains.
Fundraising can be a major indicator of how viable a campaign is—as running a citywide campaign in New York isn't cheap. Candidates are hoping to leverage their fundraising to topple Cuomo's polling lead with less than four weeks until the primary.
What to Know
Cuomo has so far received the most money in terms of private donations but has not received as much in public matching funds as some of the other candidates in the race.
He has received about $3.9 million in private donations and $1.5 million in public funds, according to the New York City Campaign Finance Board.
State Representative Zohran Mamdani, who has emerged as a favorite among the city's most progressive voters, has the highest total fundraising with $1.7 million in private funds but $6.7 million in public matching funds. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander has raised $1.7 million in private funds and received nearly $4.6 million in public funds.
Quote:The White House slammed "unelected judges" after a federal court on Wednesday unanimously ruled that President Donald Trump does not have "unbounded authority" to levy sweeping global tariffs under an emergency-powers law.
The Context
Wednesday's ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade came in response to two groups of plaintiffs who sued the Trump administration over the tariffs, saying he violated the Constitution by sidestepping Congress to impose the duties.
The federal court's three-judge panel said in its summary judgment: "The question in the two cases before the court is whether the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 ('IEEPA') delegates these powers to the President in the form of authority to impose unlimited tariffs on goods from nearly every country in the world."
"The court does not read IEEPA to confer such unbounded authority and sets aside the challenged tariffs imposed thereunder," the panel said.
One of the judges on the panel is a Trump appointee. The other two were appointed by President Ronald Reagan and President Barack Obama.
What To Know
A White House spokesperson reiterated Trump's criticisms of other countries' "nonreciprocal treatment" of the U.S. in a statement responding to Wednesday's ruling.
"These deficits have created a national emergency that has decimated American communities, left our workers behind, and weakened our defense industrial base – facts that the court did not dispute," the spokesperson told Newsweek.
Quote:San Francisco's public high schools will implement a sweeping change to their grading system this fall, replacing traditional methods with a policy that allows students to pass with scores as low as 41 percent.
The initiative, part of a broader "Grading for Equity" push, is stirring concern among educators, students and parents over academic standards and college readiness.
The Context
Similar policies across other Bay Area districts—such as Dublin, Oakland and Pleasanton—have seen mixed results and strong community reactions. Dublin Unified attempted a pilot of equity grading in 2023, which included removing zeros for missed assignments and awarding a minimum of 50 percent for any "reasonably attempted" work.
That pilot, however, was met with outrage and resistance. Parents created petitions, formed WhatsApp groups and filled school board meetings to protest what they saw as a lowering of standards for their children. The Dublin school board eventually suspended the initiative, though individual teachers were still allowed to use the methods at their discretion.
The experiment in San Francisco comes amid — or despite — a broader rethinking of DEI initiatives after the election of Donald Trump, who ran on a platform of excising what he and many others said were "unfair" equity practices in the government and private sectors.
What To Know
Superintendent Maria Su's plan in San Francisco was not subject to a public vote by the Board of Education, drawing criticism for lack of transparency. The new policy, set to affect more than 10,000 students across 14 high schools, significantly changes how academic performance is measured.
Homework and classroom participation will no longer influence a student's final grade. Students will be assessed primarily on a final exam, which they can retake multiple times. Attendance and punctuality will not affect academic standing.
The plan was first revealed in the fine print of a 25-page agenda and reported by The Voice of San Francisco, a local nonprofit. The outlet reported that the district is hiring Joe Feldman, an educational consultant known for his book Grading for Equity, to train teachers this summer.
"If our grading practices don't change, the achievement and opportunity gaps will remain for our most vulnerable students. If we are truly dedicated to equity, we have to stop avoiding the sensitive issue of grading and embrace it," Feldman said in a 2019 blog post for the School Superintendents Association (AASA).
Feldman's book outlines how traditional grading can reinforce socioeconomic disparities and proposes alternative strategies for more equitable assessment. According to The Voice of San Francisco, the new system will be modeled in part on the San Leandro Unified School District, where students can earn an A with a score as low as 80 percent and pass with a D at just 21 percent. Under the forthcoming San Francisco policy, a score of 41 percent will qualify as a C.
Quote:Vladimir Putin's helicopter was targeted by Ukrainian drones as he visited the Kursk region in a surprise visit last week, a Russian military official has claimed.
The alleged attack took place as the Russian president visited the border region for the first time since Moscow claimed it had repelled Ukrainian forces from the area last month.
Putin's helicopter was "at the epicenter" of a "large-scale" Ukrainian drone attack on May 20, Yury Dashkin, commander of a Russian air defense division, said, according to Kremlin newswire Tass.
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This is the first known instance in which the Russian president is reported to have flown through an active drone attack.
What To Know
Russia's defense ministry was forced to shoot down dozens of drones during the incident, according to Dashkin, who said in an interview aired by the state-run Rossiya-24 TV channel that the intensity of the assault escalated significantly as the presidential aircraft flew over Kursk.
He said Russian air defense systems engaged the drones to ensure the safety of the presidential helicopter.
Quote:The "threat is real" to NATO, the chief of the British Army has said, warning of "serious challenges" to the alliance as worries swirl that Russia could launch an attack on NATO in the next few years.
"We really have got some serious challenges to deal with collectively," General Sir Roly Walker, the head of the British Army, said during an address at the U.K.-based think tank, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) on Wednesday.
"The biggest challenge we face, of many, is simply a lack of time," Walker said, adding a "sense of urgency" is needed to "respond to the threats we face."
NATO officials have been increasingly ringing alarm bells over how much of a threat Russia will pose to the alliance in the next few years, particularly after inking a possible ceasefire deal in Ukraine that would free up hundreds of thousands of soldiers bogged down along the frontlines.
Assessments vary, but one judgment from Denmark's Defense Intelligence Service, published in February, said it believed Russia would be able to wage a "large-scale war" against NATO in the next five years if the U.S. declines to be involved.
Oleh Ivashchenko, the head of Ukraine's foreign intelligence service, said earlier this week Russia would be able to mount some form of attack on Europe two to four years after the end of the Ukraine war—but could be ready to do so much quicker if sanctions are lifted.
The more than three years of full-scale war in Ukraine has wreaked havoc on Moscow's land forces, but other swathes of its military, like its air force and much of the navy stationed away from Ukraine, have been largely unscathed.
Quote:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 50,000 Russian troops were massing at the border near the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine and Moscow may be preparing for a large-scale summer offensive.
Kyiv's forces have been battling in Russia's Kursk region since a cross-border offensive last summer, but they have been forced back by Moscow's recent advances. Russia has hailed the recapture from Ukrainian forces of a number of Russian towns and villages.
"Their largest, strongest forces are currently on the Kursk front to push our troops out of the Kursk region and to prepare offensive actions against the Sumy region," Zelensky said on Tuesday ahead of his visit to Germany, Sky News reported.
Trump 'Not Happy' With Putin
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed increasing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him "CRAZY!" on Sunday after deadly missile strikes hit Ukrainian cities. President Trump also expressed annoyance with Zelensky's rhetoric.
Trump is attempting to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, but progress is slow, and he has said he would walk away if he saw that no deal could be made.
"I'm not happy with what Putin is doing," the president said on Sunday.
"He's killing a lot of people, and I don't know what the hell happened to Putin. I've known him a long time. Always gotten along with him, but he's sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don't like it at all.
"We're in the middle of talking, and he's shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don't like it at all."
Further direct talks between Russia and Ukraine are due after their first set of negotiations in more than three years on May 16 produced only a mass prisoner swap and vague statements from the Russian delegation about working towards a ceasefire.
Russia has said it will only agree to a peace deal that addresses what it calls the "root causes" of the conflict, namely Ukrainian ambitions to join the U.S.-led NATO defensive alliance and policies that restrict the expression of Russian culture inside Ukraine.
But Ukraine accuses Russia of seeking to seize control of the country and remove its sovereignty in an imperial war of aggression.
Quote:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a trilateral meeting between himself, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to break the deadlock on ending Moscow's invasion.
Fighting continues between Russia and Ukraine, and Trump has expressed increasing frustration with the lack of progress towards peace, threatening to walk away from brokering the process entirely if he does not see a deal ahead.
"We are ready to meet at the level of leaders. Both the American side knows this, and the Russian side knows this," Zelensky said on Tuesday, ahead of his visit to Germany on Wednesday.
Zelensky said he is open to any configuration of talks. "If Putin is not comfortable with a bilateral meeting, or if everyone wants it to be a trilateral meeting, I don't mind. I am ready for any format," he said.
Trump Blasts Putin Over Strikes
Direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations are expected to continue soon after their first set of negotiations in more than three years took place in Istanbul on May 16, resulting in a mass prisoner swap.
The low-level delegation sent to meet Ukraine's group of high-ranking officials in Turkey had cooled hopes of a major breakthrough on a ceasefire. Zelensky was also in Turkey, offering to meet Putin personally, but the Russian president declined the invitation.
Quote:A Russian military officer once key to Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine who had not been seen in public in an official capacity for nearly two years, has been spotted in Algeria, according to U.K. intelligence officials.
In a post on social media, U.K. intelligence reported Sergei Surovikin attended a military parade in the North African country.
Surovikin, whose reputation for acting brutally earned him the nickname of "General Armageddon" had largely disappeared from public view following a failed June 2023 mutiny and march on Moscow by Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, with whom he was closely associated.
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Reports of Surovikin's arrest following the failed mutiny were never confirmed by Russian authorities but his appearance in Algeria raises questions about his current role in the military and Moscow's footprint in Africa.
What To Know
In its update on Tuesday, the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence said that a "notably thinner" Surovikin appeared in Russian embassy photographs at a Victory Day event in Algeria on May 9.
This was probably his first public appearance in an official role since 2023 and he is likely in the North African country as head of military specialists at the Russian embassy there, U.K. defense officials said.
Surovikin is a former commander of Russian forces in Ukraine and served as commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces. He had been linked to Prigozhin, who had been a vehement critic of Moscow's conduct in the war in Ukraine.
Prigozhin led his Wagner group of mercenaries in a mutiny which saw them stop short of Moscow in a move denounced as "treason" by Putin. U.K. intelligence said Tuesday Russian authorities were probably suspicious of Surovikin's association with Wagner dating back to Moscow's intervention in the Syrian civil war in 2017.
Quote:A Russian school textbook on how to operate drones has been published and will be studied by teenagers as part of the country's educational curriculum.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: 8th and 9th Grades will be taught in technology classes in schools in Russia which has made great leaps in its production of the devices used in Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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As part of Russia's war effort in Ukraine, Moscow has used drones supplied by Iran to target civilian infrastructure. At the same time, Russia has significantly developed its domestic production of drones, as has Ukraine.
The course is a sign of the growing militarization of Russian society and is the latest attempt by the Kremlin to expose children to government messaging.
What To Know
Russia's education ministry approved on April 30 the textbook produced by drone maker Geoscan, which is under U.S. sanctions, in partnership with Prosveshcheniye, Russia's largest schoolbook publisher.
A foundation for intellectual development headed by Putin's youngest daughter, Katerina Tikhonova, acquired a 10 percent stake in Geoscan, Russian outlet Verstka reported in November 2023.
The textbook is part of a national plan to train 1 million drone operators at more than 500 schools and 30 universities by the end of the decade, Moscow Times reported.
"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.
Quote:One person is dead and 11 others injured following a mass shooting early Sunday morning in the Mountain View community of southwest Catawba County, North Carolina.
According to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, deputies and Hickory Police officers responded around 12:45 a.m. to reports of multiple people shot at a residence.
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In total, 12 victims have been reported. One person was pronounced dead, another is in critical condition, and several others remain hospitalized, officials said. Local and state-level investigators are currently working at the scene to identify the suspect or suspects involved and determine a motive.
What To Know
Catawba County lies in the western region of the state, approximately an hour north of Charlotte. The shooting took place at a home on a section of Walnut Acres Drive, according to officials statements and images of the residence.
Witnesses report that there was a large party at the residence before the shooting, with around 100 attendees. During the gathering, several individuals began discharging firearms, leading to chaos and panic among the crowd.
Drone footage taken by the North Carolina station WBTV shows the house cordoned with tape, with several law enforcement vehicles parked outside and investigators collecting evidence.
Quote:Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, a Democrat, has drawn criticism from right-wing commentators and social media after making a gesture that bears similarity to the controversial one previously made by Elon Musk and Steve Bannon, for which they faced heavy backlash.
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Musk during President Donald Trump's second inauguration in January made a gesture that many claimed was a Nazi salute, while the tech mogul and his allies defended it as a harmless and well-intentioned gesture meaning "my heart goes out to you." Musk made the gesture twice.
Musk responded at the time to the criticism with a message on X, saying: "Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired."
Bannon, host of the influential War Room podcast and former White House strategist, then made a similar gesture during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February and saying, "fight, fight, fight."
Supporters of Musk and Bannon have also claimed that the pair have made a "Roman salute," which was depicted in 18th and 19th-century art, but there is no historical evidence from ancient Rome that it was a common practice.
What To Know
Booker spoke at a Democratic convention in California on Saturday, ending his speech with a gesture where he put his hand over his heart, then extended his hand out to the crowd – much in the way Musk and Bannon did, though not as forcefully as Musk did it.
The video was first posted by Richie Greenberg, a San Francisco-based political commentator and former GOP mayoral candidate for the city, and quickly spread among MAGA-social media.
Quote:Anew analysis of U.S. Census Bureau figures by real estate company Redfin has found that 49 percent of newly built apartments completed in the last quarter of 2024 hadn't been rented out within three months, the fifth quarter in a row this figure was below 50 percent.
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A near record number of new apartments were completed in the fourth quarter of 2024, which coincided with a year-on-year rent fall of 1 percent in April 2025, according to Redfin.
This suggests a surge in building has provided some relief to renters, but the latest figures could concern developers looking to sell properties.
What To Know
Redfin's analysis of Census Bureau data found 49 percent of newly built apartments that were completed between October and December 2024 hadn't been rented out three months later, a slight rise on the 47 percent recorded for the third quarter of 2024.
Notably, this was the fifth consecutive quarter that the rental adoption rate for newly built apartments was below 49 percent with Redfin saying the market is continuing to "lag behind pre-pandemic norms."
For one- and two-bedroom apartments, 44 percent of the newbuilds had been rented out within three months, compared to larger three-bedroom-plus apartments where the figure was 53 percent.
The analysis also concluded that the vacancy rate for buildings up for rent with five or more units was 8.2 percent in the first quarter of 2025, which tied with the fourth quarter of 2024 as the highest figure since 2021.
Quote:The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has elevated the risk level of a recent cookie recall to Class I—the highest and most serious category—amid concerns over undeclared allergens.
New Grains Gluten Free Bakery announced a product recall that was publicized by the FDA earlier in May. The company found that some of its baked goods, including four types of cookie, may contain eggs, soy, or milk, despite consumers not being advised of this.
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According to the FDA, millions of people in the U.S. have food allergies or food sensitivities. Food sensitivities can range from mild reactions to potentially life-threatening symptoms. The FDA recognizes nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, sesame, fish, tree nuts, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.
The inclusion of these ingredients in a product without proper disclosure poses a serious risk of allergic reactions, which can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
What To Know
The affected products, which include gluten-free varieties of Chocolate Chip, Frosted Sugar, Coconut Macaroon, and Brownie Chocolate Chip cookies, were found to contain undeclared allergens such as egg, milk, and soy.
These allergens were not properly identified on the packaging due to print quality issues that rendered ingredient lists and allergen warnings either unreadable or missing.
Compounding the problem, the lot codes and date codes printed on the cookie packaging were also unreadable or absent, making it difficult for consumers and retailers to identify and isolate affected batches.
Quote:The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) initiated a recall of about 24,000 kitchen faucets made by BASDEHEN and sold on Amazon.com, after tests showed these products could leach dangerous amounts of lead into drinking water.
Why It Matters
Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can cause irreversible health effects, particularly in young children, including cognitive impairment, behavioral issues, and lower IQ. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Early action against dangerous consumer products, such as contaminated faucets, is critical to preventing lasting harm and public health crises across American homes.
The recall highlights growing concerns over imported plumbing products and their role in contaminating U.S. drinking water, raising new questions about product oversight, e-commerce platforms, and consumer protections.
What To Know
The CPSC advised consumers to immediately stop using and properly dispose of the affected faucets, which pose a particular risk to infants, young children, and pregnant women, according to a CPSC recall notice. Testing found excessive lead levels in the faucets, with the CPSC urging Americans to check their kitchen and bathroom fixtures for the recalled model.
About 24,000 units are impacted by the recall and were sold on Amazon from May 2024 through May 2025 for about $30.
When reached for comment, the CPSC directed Newsweek to a press release published by the commission on May 15 that warns consumers of nine Chinese-made faucets that pose dangerous lead exposure risks to those who use them.
"These warnings follow a CPSC enforcement sweep targeting dangerous faucets manufactured in China. None of the Chinese firms has agreed to conduct an acceptable recall," the press release said. "Earlier this week, CPSC issued a public health and safety finding to expedite public warnings about these faucets because individuals may be in danger from these product hazards."
Quote:Three different companies' products have been pulled from shelves in the past four days due to concerns about salmonella contamination.
Why It Matters
Salmonella causes symptoms from diarrhea and fever to severe, sometimes life-threatening infections in vulnerable groups. U.S. consumers are being urged to thoroughly inspect their deli, salad, and produce purchases, as healthy individuals are at risk.
The widespread nature of both the distribution and consumption of these products underscores the importance of rapid response and cross-state coordination to contain foodborne outbreaks and protect public health.
What To Know
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced voluntary recalls this week on products made and distributed by Supreme Service Solutions, The Coastal Companies, and Isabelle's Kitchen Inc.
Products withdrawn include fresh cucumbers, salads, salsas, and vegetable trays that were sold to supermarket chains, food service distributors, and local grocers, with official notices warning consumers not to eat, sell, or serve any affected items.
Quote:Millions of residents in Texas, Minnesota, and Michigan are under air quality alerts this weekend as authorities warn of unhealthy levels of ozone and fine particle pollution.
Why It Matters
The alerts come as wildfires are burning across Canada, creating harmful conditions and affecting air quality.
Smoke and airborne pollutants can be especially hazardous for individuals with respiratory conditions.
So far this year, wildfires have scorched over 1.58 million acres in Canada—roughly 40 percent above the 10-year average for this time of year, CNN reported.
What To Know
The air quality issues affecting these three states stem from a combination of factors. In Texas, high temperatures and stagnant atmospheric conditions have created an environment conducive to ozone buildup. In Minnesota and Michigan, strong northerly winds are carrying smoke from the Canadian wildfires, impacting air quality across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions.
Residents in affected areas are advised to check air quality forecasts, limit outdoor activities, avoid exercising outside during peak pollution hours, and use air conditioning systems to keep indoor air clean. Health officials warn that these alerts may extend into the following week if weather conditions persist.
Minnesota
In Minnesota, the entire state is under an Air Quality Alert issued by the state's Pollution Control Agency. It remains in effect until 6 p.m. on Monday, June 2.
Smoke from massive wildfires burning in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada, has been pushed south by northerly winds, blanketing Minnesota in a dense haze.
Quote:President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is doubling the tariff on steel to 50 percent, a sharp escalation that could drive up costs for housing, automobiles, and other steel-based goods as he announced what he called "a blockbuster agreement" to let U.S. Steel merge with Japan's Nippon Steel.
Why It Matters
Trump in March announced that the U.S. would apply a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, followed shortly by the announcement that he would seek to make a deal with Japanese steel manufacturing firms to acquire Nippon Steel, creating one of the biggest steel manufacture companies in the world.
Some praised the measure as vital to helping breathe fresh life into America's domestic production, while others worried that the increased costs would hurt sectors reliant on steel and aluminum, impacting access to overseas markets in the face of retaliatory measures.
What To Know
Speaking at U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, Trump highlighted Japan's Nippon Steel while defending his administration's trade policies. Since he took office, the price of steel products has risen by approximately 16 percent, according to the government's producer price index.
Trump told workers, "It's headquartered in the great city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where it belongs."
The president announced Nippon Steel's "record-setting" $14 billion commitment to future of the company.
Quote:Egypt, traditionally a U.S. ally, could be seeking to acquire Chinese J-35 fighter jets, according to aviation and defense outlets.
Newsweek has contacted the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) for comment.
Why It Matters
The J-35 fighter jet, modeled after the American F-35, is gaining more appeal as China, competing with the U.S., seeks to expand its influence in South Asia, the Middle East and the broader Arab region.
What To Know
Egyptian Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Abdel Gawad has reportedly shown interest in China's J-35 stealth fighter, according to the Belgian-based Army Recognition Group, which specializes in military analysis.
Reports have not been confirmed by the Egyptian or Chinese authorities.
Retired Egyptian Army Major General Sayed Ghoneim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi-based Institute for Global Security and Defense Affairs (IGSDA), pointed out to the display of a model of a J-35 during an Egyptian event earlier this month marking 45 years of military ties with China, as an indicator of interest in buying the jets.
According to Ghoneim, Egypt may be pushing against the United States, which has hindered the upgrade and upkeep of Egypt's fighter jet fleet.
Quote:Chinese scientists have developed a new material that could lead to stealthier missiles and combat aircraft.
The technology could potentially compromise the effectiveness of U.S. missile defense systems, including President Donald Trump's much-hyped "Golden Dome."
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The United States is concerned about the growing intercontinental missile (ICBM) stockpiles of nuclear-armed China and Russia, including faster-than-sound hypersonic missiles. These arsenals are expected to become even more capable in the coming years.
Trump has ordered work to begin on the "Golden Dome," a satellite-based missile shield. Beijing has said it's "gravely concerned" about the project, which draws inspiration from the Strategic Defense Initiative, or "Star Wars," proposed by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s during the Cold War.
What To Know
Aircraft and missiles emit strong thermal radiation, created by superheated components such as exhaust nozzles, which raises the risk of detection. These temperatures can also degrade and even destroy the structure of standard materials.
A Chinese research team led by Professor Li Qiang of Zhejiang University detailed a possible solution to this problem in a study published in March.
Their new material is designed to evade both microwave and infrared detection technologies widely used in modern military surveillance, even when exposed to extremely high temperatures, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
To test its stealth potential, the team compared the material to a standard blackbody, or a surface that absorbs various types of radiation.
Even when heated to 700 degrees Celsius (1,292 degrees Fahrenheit), the material emitted a far lower radiation temperature—422 degrees Celsius—than the blackbody's 690 degrees.
Quote:China continues to challenge the United States' maritime containment strategy in the Pacific Ocean by sending an aircraft carrier to contested waters near Japan, a key Washington ally.
Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a news conference on Wednesday that China's naval activities "are entirely in accordance with international law and international practice" and also urged Japan to view the matter "objectively and rationally."
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Under the U.S.'s island chain strategy, three defensive lines are established by leveraging U.S.-aligned territories to restrict China's access to the Pacific Ocean. The closest one to the East Asian power is the first island chain, consisting of Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines.
China has the world's largest navy by hull count, according to a Pentagon report, with more than 370 ships and submarines, including two aircraft carriers in active service. This naval fleet enables China to expand its military presence and reach within and beyond the island chains.
The recent deployment of the Chinese aircraft carrier comes as the U.S. Navy has sent a pair of aircraft carriers to different waters in the western Pacific Ocean this week: the USS Nimitz, operating in the South China Sea, and the USS George Washington, operating near Japan.
What To Know
The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning, previously spotted in the East China Sea north of Japan's southwestern Senkaku Islands, passed through the Miyako Strait southeast toward the Philippine Sea on Tuesday, the Joint Staff of the Japanese Defense Ministry announced.
Quote:The United Kingdom is hoping to purchase American-made fighter jets, capable of both carrying and deploying nuclear weapons, according to a report in The Sunday Times.
The British newspaper cited anonymous senior officials familiar with the matter, who said the U.K. intends buying Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning stealth fighter aircraft, but that other options are also being evaluated.
The Sunday Times reported that the potential deal was part of the country's broader strategy to address threats posed by Russia, and that the "highly sensitive" talks between the Pentagon and the Ministry of Defence have been led by Admiral Sir Antony David Radakin, head of the UK's armed forces, and Secretary of State for Defence John Healey.
When contacted for comment, the Ministry of Defence directed Newsweek to an interview given by Healey on Sunday morning, in which he said that such discussions "are not conducted in public," but refused to rule out whether the purchase was an option.
Why It Matters
Combined with other actions taken and statements made by the U.K. government in recent days, including tomorrow's release of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, the purchase would signal a significant escalation in Britain's assessment of the threats posed by Russia and the urgency of countering these.
Additionally, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has recently set out plans to increase the country's defense budget to 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, up from the current 2.3 percent. This follows calls from NATO officials for member states to devote a greater portion of their budget to counter Russian threats, and similar requests from President Donald Trump
What To Know
According to the U.S. Air Force, the F-35A Lightning possesses a range of more than 1,350 miles and is capable of carrying payloads of up to 18,000 pounds. Variants of the F-35 have already been certified to carry B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs, a type of low-yield nuclear munitions.
Having decommissioned its stockpile of tactical, air-delivered nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War, the U.K. has relied on its "Trident" system as a nuclear deterrent. The arsenal is exclusively capable of being deployed by four Royal Navy Vanguard-class submarines.
Quote:Major Zaur Gurtsiyev, who commanded Russian air operations during the brutal siege of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol has been killed in an explosion in Russia's Stavropol.
Russia's Investigative Committee named Gurtsiyev, 34, as one of the two male victims in the blast on Wednesday night, which they believe was caused by an improvised explosive device.
"Investigators are considering all possible versions of the crime, including a terrorist act," the committee said in a post on Telegram.
...
Why It Matters
Gurtsiyev played a key role in one of the most devastating chapters of Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine. The Russian military assault on Mariupol in March 2022 killed thousands of civilians. Hundreds of thousands of others were trapped for weeks in Russia's siege of the Ukrainian port city, which is located on the Sea of Azov.
Gurtsiyev had also served as deputy mayor of Stavropol.
What To Know
The explosion took place near a residential apartment building. Surveillance footage of the incident circulated by Telegram channels linked to Russian law enforcement agencies purportedly showed the moment Gurtsiyev was caught up in the blast. The video shows one man approaching another near a parking lot.
Quote:Atop Russian official praised North Korean troops for assisting President Vladimir Putin's military in the Ukraine war.
Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, said the troops deployed by Pyongyang to Russia had fought "valiantly" in the Kursk region, Kremlin newswire Tass reported on Thursday.
Why It Matters
Just months ago, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims by Ukraine and South Korea, denying reports that North Korean troops were involved in the conflict. However, Moscow and Pyongyang issued statements confirming the deployment in April. The praise from Shoigu highlights the growing ties between the two nations amid the ongoing war.
What To Know
Kyiv and Seoul said in December that Pyongyang had deployed an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 servicemen to Russia to fight Ukrainian forces.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Shoigu said the troops deployed to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fought as if they were defending their own country.
"They fought for the liberation of our land, as for the liberation of their own land," the former defense minister said, adding that he thanked North Korean officials for their assistance in the border region of Kursk, where Ukraine had launched a cross-border incursion last year.
In April, Moscow said it had repelled Ukrainian forces from the area.
Andriy Kovalenko, an official on Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said in March that North Korean troops were storming the front lines in Kursk in "columns."
Quote:Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday, as the conflict rages on with deadly missile strikes and the largest drone assault of the three-year war.
Ukrainian negotiators plan to present a roadmap for a long-term peace settlement during the upcoming talks in Istanbul, according to a document reviewed by Reuters.
The proposal outlines an initial 30-day ceasefire as a first step, followed by the mutual return of prisoners and the repatriation of Ukrainian children taken to Russian-controlled territory.
A meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin would follow.
...
Why It Matters
The talks come amid mounting tensions after a Ukrainian drone operation reportedly destroyed more than 40 military aircraft's from Putin's war machine deep inside Russian territory. A Ukrainian security official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the drone strike targeted airfields including the Belaya air base in Irkutsk, located over 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine. It marks the first confirmed Ukrainian drone activity in the region.
What To Know
The official stated the long-range operation was planned over a period of 18 months and was personally overseen by President Zelensky. The drones, hidden in containers and transported by truck, reached their targets without being detected, according to Ukrainian sources.
Quote:A surprise Ukrainian drone attack is being described as "Russia's Pearl Harbor" by some commentators online after 41 military aircraft were hit on Sunday.
...
Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and mediated by the United States, have remained in a delicate position for months as both sides continue to attack each other despite engaging in discussions to agree a peace deal.
President Donald Trump has regularly voiced his frustration with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, particularly with what Trump has perceived as a potential lack of interest in actually attaining a peace deal.
Zelensky during an explosive argument with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office in February said that Russia had already blown up previous deals made with Ukraine, and Trump has questioned whether Putin is just "tapping him along" and drawing out negotiations while seeking to prolong the conflict that started in February 2022.
What To Know
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said on Sunday that "enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia," saying that Ukraine is conducting "a large scale special operation aimed at destroying enemy bomber aircraft," Euro News reported.
The Ukrainian attack follows ground advances by Moscow troops in recent days in Ukraine's Sumy border region.
Trump administration sources told CBS News on Sunday that the White House was not aware that an attack was coming.
"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.
A federal appeals court put the brakes Thursday on a lower court order that overturned most of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
A full 11-judge panel on the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit stayed the order by the Manhattan-based Court of International Trade while a White House appeal is heard.
The Court of International Trade had ruled that Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by imposing a 10% flat duty rate on dozens of countries around the world — as well as 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 20% tariffs on China in response to illegal fentanyl trafficking.
The tariffs had been challenged by a dozen states and five small businesses — which the appeals panel gave until June 5 to respond to Thursday’s stay.
Wall Street shrugged off the about-face, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing up 117 points, the Nasdaq rising almost 75 points, and the S&P 500 gaining more than 23 points.
Trump slammed the trade court’s ruling as “horrific” and a threat to “presidential power,” in a Truth Social post Thursday night, marking his first public comments on the matter.
“Where do these initial three Judges come from? How is it possible for them to have potentially done such damage to the United States of America?” the president seethed in the 510-word-long post.
“Under this decision, Trillions of Dollars would be lost by our Country,” Trump argued, further describing the ruling “Country threatening” and “so wrong, and so political.”
He expressed hope that the Supreme Court “QUICKLY and DECISIVELY” takes up the case and rules in his favor.
“The pause will not affect the negotiations in any way if people out there in the world simply look at the court decision,” White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told reporters following the order.
“The court was clear, as I said, that [the] President has broad authority to impose tariffs,” he added, in a nod to a passage from the lower court ruling that noted the president has other avenues apart from emergency powers to impose duties on imports.
“This morning, we were getting plenty of phone calls from countries saying, ‘We saw the rule,’ and so what we’re going to continue to [do is] negotiate in good faith,” Navarro continued.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) filed a resolution on Wednesday to expel Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) from the House of Representatives after a federal assault charge was brought against the Democrat earlier this week in connection with her confrontation with law enforcement outside a Newark immigration detention center.
“On May 9th, McIver didn’t just break the law, she attacked the very people who defend it,” Mace said in a statement. “Attacking Homeland Security and ICE agents isn’t just disgraceful, it’s assault.”
“If any other American did what she did, they’d be in handcuffs,” the South Carolina Republican continued. “McIver thinks being a Member of Congress puts her above the law. It doesn’t.”
“She should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Acting New Jersey US Attorney Alina Habba slapped McIver with two felony counts on Monday, accusing the congresswoman of using force to interfere with federal agents during a chaotic protest earlier this month at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark.
McIver faces up to eight years in prison if convicted of the charges.
Video footage of the scrum released by the Department of Homeland Security shows McIver throwing elbows at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and striking a Homeland Security Investigations officer in the arm outside the detention center.
McIver, who has represented the Garden State’s 10th Congressional District since September 2024, has denied the allegations, slamming the charges on Monday as “purely political” and blaming federal agents for the confrontation at the ICE-run detention facility.
Longtime Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler slammed President Trump for “sowing chaos” nationwide after federal agents handcuffed one of his aides inside his lower Manhattan office.
The lawmaker’s verbal tirade came after Department of Homeland Security officers entered the Big Apple office Wednesday and accused his staff of “harboring rioters” in a dramatic confrontation caught on video.
“President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security are sowing chaos in our communities, using intimidating tactics against both citizens and non-citizens in a reckless and dangerous manner,” he said in a statement to Politico.
“If this can happen in a Member of Congress’s office, it can happen to anyone — and it is happening.”
The video, obtained by Gothamist, showed one agent aggressively restraining a teary-eyed female staffer, while another employee asked for a warrant and blocked a second officer from entering a private section of the congressional office, located in the same Varick Street building as federal immigration court.
“I’m a federal officer, we’re here checking on something,” the male agent said to the employee standing in his way, the footage showed.
“We have the right to check. You are harboring rioters in the office,” he argued in the heated back-and-forth that ended with the staffer granting him access to the back office.
Nadler said that the “deeply troubling” incident showed a clear violation of legal protocols.
Federal Protective Service officers went to the congressman’s office to conduct a security check after receiving reports that protesters were hiding inside, DHS told The Post in a statement.
. . .
Federal Protective Service officers went to the congressman’s office to conduct a security check after receiving reports that protesters were hiding inside, DHS told The Post in a statement.
So Federal Officers with probable cause after receiving reports of rioters in the building, and Nadler wishes to condemn the officers... and not his staff for harboring them?
President Trump on Friday claimed China “totally violated” a temporary truce with the US to lower tariff rates and trade restrictions for critical minerals as the world’s two largest economies negotiate.
“China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He did not specify how China violated the trade agreement, which the two nations reached earlier this month.
. . .
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said trade talks with China have “stalled.”
Both China and the US had slashed their tariff rates on the other by more than 100 percentage points, bringing China’s duty on the US down to 10% from 125% and Trump’s levy on China down to 30% from 145%.
. . .
The US Court of International Trade mentioned in this article had their ruling that hamptered Trump's power overturned by the US Court of Appeals (above).
President Donald Trump made it clear he is losing patience with Vladimir Putin, leveling some of his sharpest criticism at the Russian leader as Moscow pounded Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles for a third straight night.
“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump wrote in a social media post on Sunday night.
Trump said Putin is “needlessly killing a lot of people,” pointing out that “missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.”
The attack was the largest aerial assault since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022, according to Ukrainian officials. At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured.
The U.S. president warned that if Putin wants to conquer all of Ukraine, it will “lead to the downfall of Russia!” But Trump expressed frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well, saying that he is “doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does.”
“Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop,” Trump wrote on social media.
The president has increasingly voiced irritation at Putin and the inability to resolve the now three-year-old war, which Trump promised he would promptly end as he campaigned to return to the White House.
He had long boasted of his friendly relationship with Putin and repeatedly stressed that Russia is more willing than Ukraine to reach a peace deal.
But last month, Trump urged Putin to “STOP!” assaulting Ukraine after Russia launched another deadly barrage of attacks on Kyiv, and he has repeatedly expressed his frustration that the war in Ukraine is continuing.
. . .
Up is down, left is right and sideways is straight ahead. - Cord "Circle of Iron", 1978 (written by Bruce Lee and James Coburn... really...)
Quote:The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously rejected a multibillion-dollar lawsuit filed by the Mexican government that sought to hold American gun manufacturers legally accountable for the rampant cartel violence south of the border.
In a decision authored by Justice Elena Kagan, the Court ruled that Mexico's claims were barred by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), a 2005 federal statute that largely shields gunmakers and sellers from liability when crimes are committed with their products.
"Today's unanimous Supreme Court decision shutting down this ridiculous lawsuit against our company represents not only a big win for Smith & Wesson, but our industry, American sovereignty and, most importantly, every American who wishes to exercise his or her Second Amendment rights," Smith & Wesson President and CEO Mark Smith told Newsweek in a statement.
"This suit, brought by Mexico in collaboration with U.S.-based anti-Second Amendment activist groups, was an afront to our nation's sovereignty and a direct attack on the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. It is also only the latest example of their strategy of attacking our company and our industry by bringing one frivolous lawsuit after another, in a blatant abuse of our legal system to advance their anti-Constitutional agenda."
Why It Matters
Thousands of firearms found in Mexico have been linked to U.S. manufacturers and dealers in the past, with the weapons fueling violence, which has then led to mass migration into the United States.
What To Know
Big-name manufacturers, such as Smith & Wesson, had appealed to the justices after a lower court allowed the suit filed by the Mexican government to proceed.
Mexico had alleged that America's firearms companies had engaged in business practices that created a supply of firearms that were then smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border and ended up in the hands of cartels, failing to exercise "reasonable care."
Mexico sought to challenge the PLCAA, which was passed by Congress in 2005 and signed into law by then-President George W. Bush.
The country's case was initially dismissed by a Boston federal judge in 2024, but an appeals court overruled Dennis Saylor's decision.
Quote:David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California and SEIU-United Service Workers West's president, was injured and detained by federal agents during a series of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in downtown Los Angeles on Friday.
Newsweek reached out to SEIU via its online form on Saturday for comment.
The Context
As reported by Newsweek, hundreds of people flooded the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Friday following a series of reported raids carried out by ICE earlier that day.
The raids resulted in the detention of at least 44 individuals and sparked protests, with demonstrators clashing with law enforcement. ICE agents used pepper spray and smoke grenades to disperse the protesters.
What To Know
Reports say Huerta was observing and documenting ICE operations when he was allegedly pushed to the ground by federal agents, resulting in a head injury.
ABC News said, at one point, a scuffle broke out involving federal agents, during which Huerta appeared to be pushed and struck his head. In one video, a federal agent is seen pushing him while his hands are at his hips, causing him to fall to the ground.
Huerta was hospitalized for treatment and later transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he remained in custody, the Los Angeles Times said.
A SEIU press release updated Friday, stated: "David Huerta, President of SEIU California and SEIU- United Service Workers West, has been released from the hospital where he was treated for injuries sustained during his arrest and at this time remains in custody."
Quote:House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's call to place active-duty U.S. Marines near Los Angeles on "high alert" amid ongoing protests, saying during a Sunday interview appearance on ABC News that the move is not "heavy-handed."
Newsweek has reached out to Johnson for comment via email on Sunday.
Why It Matters
Federal immigration enforcement operations sparked protests across California for a second day in a row on Saturday. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out raids in Paramount, Los Angeles County, following similar actions at several locations throughout other parts of the city on Friday.
The Trump administration has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history and has conducted numerous ICE raids, some of which have swept up individuals with proper documentation. Earlier this week, protests erupted over claims that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building—allegations ICE has denied. A spokesperson previously told Newsweek that the agency "categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles."
Some protestors have thrown rocks at law enforcement, with one allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail, as well as burning items in the street. Agents have used tear gas on the crowds.
The clashes highlight deepening conflicts between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal immigration policy, as Trump has implemented sweeping changes through executive orders and utilized the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand deportation authority.
President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard to quell the protests. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the move, saying local law enforcement was already mobilized and the presence of the National Guard was "purposefully inflammatory," would "escalate tensions" and "erode public trust."
What To Know
Hegseth said in a Saturday evening post on X, formerly Twitter, that in addition to mobilizing guards, nearby Marines may also be called upon, writing, "And, if violence continues, active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert."
Quote:Elon Musk's father Errol has called his son's feud with President Donald Trump a "mistake," saying the pair "have been under incredible stress for five months."
Why It Matters
The world has watched the dramatic fallout between Trump, one of the most powerful men on the planet, and Elon Musk, the world's richest man.
It started with Musk's criticism of Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he called "outrageous," "pork-filled," and a "disgusting abomination."
Things escalated when Elon Musk claimed on social media, without providing evidence, that Trump was named in files about child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019—something the White House has denied.
What To Know
Errol Musk was in Moscow to speak at the Future Forum 2050, a conference on Russia's development headlined by Alexander Dugin, an ultranationalist firebrand often referred to as "Putin's philosopher".
Musk-senior told Russian media that Elon Musk's comments had been "a mistake," according to the national daily newspaper Izvestia.
"They've been under incredible stress for five months. Give them a break," Errol Musk said. "They had to get rid of the opposition, try to restore normalcy, focus on ordinary matters, and so on. They're exhausted and tense, so something like this isn't unusual."
He went on to say that he believes his son and Trump will come to a resolution soon.
His remarks came after Trump said that the Tesla CEO would face "very serious consequences" if the tech billionaire started to fund Democrats in the wake of their fallout.
Quote:Air quality alerts have been issued across six states on Friday, as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to impact parts of the U.S.
Why It Matters
Health authorities warn that worsening air quality presents a health hazard, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and individuals with existing medical conditions.
At least two people have died and tens of thousands have been evacuated in Canada as a result of the blazes, according to reports.
What To Know
The National Weather Service (NWS) published alerts for parts of Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska.
The alerts warned that elevated levels of particulate pollution were anticipated due to smoke from the blazes.
They also advised residents in affected areas, particularly those in sensitive groups, to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities.
Quote:A recall has been issued for thousands of cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar that were mislabeled and contained the full-sugar product, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The products were distributed to retailers in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Newsweek contacted Keurig Dr Pepper, which owns the product in the United States, and PepsiCo, which bottled the beverages, for comment via email outside of regular working hours.
Why It Matters
This mislabeling poses potential health risks to consumers, particularly for individuals managing conditions like diabetes or those monitoring their sugar intake
The FDA has issued a Class II risk classification for the recall, indicating that the consumption of the mislabeled products may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.
What To Know
The FDA said the company-initiated recall affects 19,203 cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar 12-fluid ounce cans, sold in 12-pack and 24-pack cartons.
The affected cans were produced at a Pepsi bottling facility in Jacksonville, Florida, which is licensed to manufacture Keurig Dr Pepper products, according to the FDA.
The affected products have the product code XXXXRS05165, and a best-by date of February 16, 2026.
The recall was initiated on May 23, 2025, and the FDA classified it as a Class II recall on June 5, 2025.
A can of regular Dr Pepper contains 39 grams of sugar, while the Zero Sugar version has zero grams, but contains the artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame potassium.
Quote:August Egg Company has issued a recall on Friday for 1,700,000 brown cage-free and certified organic brown eggs due to potential fears of salmonella.
Newsweek reached out to the company after hours via phone Friday night for comment.
Why It Matters
Numerous recalls have been initiated this year due to the potential for the following: damaged products, foodborne illness, contamination and undeclared food allergens.
Millions of Americans experience food sensitivities or food allergies every year. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the nine "major" food allergens in the U.S. are eggs, milk, fish, wheat, soybeans, Crustacean shellfish, sesame, tree nuts and peanuts.
The FDA warns that salmonella is an organism that could cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in frail or older people, young children and those with weakened immune systems.
What To Know
The FDA says in its alert that some of the eggs were distributed to grocery stores including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs.
Those eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 15, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 4, 2025, in both California and Nevada.
The FDA says additional eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 6, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 19, 2025, in Walmart stores in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Wyoming.
Quote:Kroger has announced recalls of multiple products in May, citing concerns including potential salmonella contamination to manufacturing defects.
The products range from food to kitchen items and kids' jewelry, and the recalls affect Kroger locations and its subsidiary stores nationwide.
Dinty Moore Beef Stew
Cans of Dinty Moore Beef Stew, 20 oz, produced by Hormel Foods Corporation, have been recalled due to the possibility that the products may be contaminated with foreign matter.
The recall impacts Kroger stores in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, West Virginia and Kentucky.
It also affects subsidiary stores that stock the products, such as Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food4Less, FoodsCo and Smith's.
The recalls were issued on May 29 and May 30.
Customers who have purchased the products are advised not to eat them and can return them for a full refund. They can be identified by their product code 37600-21583 and a best buy date of February 2028.
Cucumbers, Vegetable Platters and Salad Trays
Kroger stores have recalled several salad items following a cucumber recall from Bedner Growers due to possible salmonella contamination.
The items are:
Deli Fresh Veg Tray Medium
Deli Spring Mix Salad Tray
BRHD Hummus Veg Platter Small
BRHD Hummus Veg Platter Medium
Cucumbers
The products were recalled on May 21 and affected stores in the Greater Memphis area of Tennessee, as well as Arkansas, Mississippi, and Western Kentucky.
Kroger stated that any of these salad items purchased between May 8 and 21, as well as cucumbers purchased between May 14 and 21, should not be consumed.
Quote:Albertsons Companies has issued a voluntary recall of multiple store-prepared Greek salad products sold across 12 states and Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the alert as a Class I recall—its highest and most urgent warning level.
The salads were made using cucumbers linked to a multistate salmonella outbreak traced back to Bedner Growers Company.
Newsweek has contacted Albertsons, via email, and Bedner Growers Company, via online contact form, for comment.
Why It Matters
A Class I recall is reserved for products that pose a serious health risk with a "reasonable probability" of causing illness or even death if consumed. The recalled Greek salads were sold under several store brands in high-traffic northeastern grocery chains.
The FDA warning elevates the urgency for consumers who may still have the product in their refrigerators, particularly those with compromised immune systems, children, and elderly individuals more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.
What to Know
Recalled Products:
AMCE Greek Salad AUTHENTIC FS
Sold refrigerated in clear plastic containers by the pound
UPC: 293070 #####
READY MEALS Greek Salad SS
Sold refrigerated in clear plastic containers by the pound
UPC: 292483 #####
Star Market Greek Salad FS
Sold refrigerated in clear plastic containers by the pound
Quote:Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been returned to the United States to face criminal charges more than two months after being mistakenly deported to El Salvador, the Department of Justice confirmed Friday.
The 29-year-old has been indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. for allegedly transporting undocumented migrants. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said during a press briefing that Abrego Garcia worked for nine years as a human trafficker.
"Our government presented El Salvador with an arrest warrant, and they agreed to return him to our country," Bondi said. "We are grateful to President Bukele for agreeing to return him to our country to face these very serious charges. This is what American justice looks like."
Abrego Garcia's legal team later said they had not been informed by the government about their client's return, finding out through the press.
"The government disappeared Kilmar to a foreign prison in violation of a court order. Now, after months of delay and secrecy, they're bringing him back, not to correct their error but to prosecute him," attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg said in a statement. "Due process means the chance to defend yourself before you're punished, not after. This is an abuse of power, not justice."
Why It Matters
Abrego Garcia was among the 230 migrants who were deported to El Salvador in March, where they were initially at the maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT.
The Trump administration has faced increasing pressure from the courts and Democrats to return the El Salvadoran immigrant who had been living in Maryland since he arrived in the U.S. illegally in 2011.
What To Know
A sealed indictment, filed in a Tennessee federal court last month, states that 29-year-old Abrego Garcia is part of an elaborate, decade-long conspiracy to transport thousands of undocumented migrants, including children and some gang members, across the country from Texas, the DOJ said.
Quote:The United States fetched Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador on Friday, nearly three months after his mistaken deportation, charging the Maryland-based migrant who became a flashpoint in the Trump administration's immigration policies with federal human trafficking crimes.
The 29-year-old Salvadoran national is accused of taking part in a human smuggling ring for around nine years, according to a Tennessee grand jury indictment filed on May 21. The indictment was made public on Friday, as Abrego Garcia was en route to the U.S. to be arraigned.
Friday afternoon, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Abrego Garcia had landed back in the U.S. "to face justice", after the Trump administration previously avoided facilitating his return from his home country despite an order by the U.S. Supreme Court.
His attorneys said at a media briefing Friday evening that the government was playing "dirty tricks".
Why It Matters
After it emerged Abrego Garcia was deported following an "administrative error" under the Alien Enemies Act, the Trump administration insisted that he was a known MS-13 gang member and criminal, despite not presenting evidence. The indictment finally lays out the allegations against him.
What To Know
The ten-page indictment filed in Tennessee charges Abrego Garcia with:
Conspiracy to transport aliens
Unlawful transportation of undocumented aliens
Bondi said Abrego Garcia would be tried on these charges and, if found guilty, serve a sentence in the U.S. before being returned to El Salvador.
Abrego Garcia's legal team told reporters Friday evening that he would be rigorously defending the allegations against him.
What Did Abrego Garcia Allegedly Do?
The indictment alleges that between 2016 and 2025, Abrego Garcia and a group of others "conspired to bring undocumented aliens to the United States from countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Ecuador, and elsewhere." These migrants passed through Mexico before reached the U.S.
The Salvadoran allegedly used cell phones and social media to coordinate the operation, taking payments from the individuals they were smuggling.
The indictment repeats the claim that Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang, linked to the aforementioned countries and originating out of Los Angeles, and that he used his status within the gang to "further his criminal activity".
Quote:A California appeals court has ruled that it is illegal for drivers to hold a cellphone while using a navigation app—even if they are not tapping or swiping.
Why It Matters
The ruling significantly broadens the scope of California's distracted driving law and could impact thousands of drivers who routinely glance at maps while holding their phones.
What To Know
The court determined that simply holding a phone and looking at a map while driving qualifies as "operating" the device under California law—making it a ticketable offense.
Mounted phones that are operated with a single swipe are still permitted, but holding a phone at any point while driving, even passively, now crosses the legal line, according to the ruling.
The ruling stems from the case of Nathaniel Gabriel Porter, who was ticketed after he was seen holding his phone in his left hand while looking at a mapping app. Although he was not interacting with the phone's screen, a police officer pulled him over and issued a $158 fine.
Porter contested the ticket, and a lower court initially sided with him, ruling that "merely observing GPS directions on the phone does not constitute the kind of active use or manipulation to trigger an infraction." But the appellate court reversed that decision, ruling that the law's intent goes beyond physical manipulation of the phone.
"When legislators adopted the current state law prohibiting drivers from 'operating' a cellphone while driving, they did so 'to reduce distracted driving resulting from advancements in modern phones and to encourage drivers to keep their eyes on the road,'" the court wrote.
Under the statute, passed in 2016, drivers must use mounted devices if they wish to access their phones for any reason, including navigation. Fines can start at $20 for a first offense but often increase because of additional fees and penalties.
Quote:President Donald Trump took a victory lap on Friday after an appeals court ruled that he can bar the Associated Press (AP) from attending certain White House events.
The Context
The Trump administration in February barred the AP from covering events in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One and other restricted areas because the news outlet refused to comply with Trump's directive to call the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America."
The AP filed a lawsuit in response, saying that the administration violated the First and Fifth amendments by retaliating against the outlet for its editorial decisions.
What To Know
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia paused a lower court's order that had lifted the White House ban on the news agency's journalists and photographers.
"We grant in part the government's motion for a stay pending appeal," the panel of judges said in their ruling.
"Big WIN over AP today," Trump wrote on his social media website, Truth Social. "They refused to state the facts or the Truth on the GULF OF AMERICA. FAKE NEWS!!!"
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden initially denied the AP's request for an immediate restraining order but granted a preliminary injunction in April, ordering the White House to restore the AP's access to presidential events. McFadden emphasized in his ruling that the government cannot exclude journalists based on their viewpoints.
The Trump administration appealed McFadden's order and the appeals court ruled in a 2-1 decision Friday that the administration can bar AP journalists from some areas, like the Oval Office and Air Force One, while the lawsuit works its way through the courts.
Quote:Prosecutors released new excerpts from Luigi Mangione's spiral notebook, detailing the alleged killer's motive for targeting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
A Wednesday court filing described detailed planning and ideological motivations, including Mangione's stated desire to avoid civilian casualties.
Mangione, 27, was arrested five days after Thompson was shot and killed outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024. Authorities have characterized the crime as premeditated and politically motivated, and the evidence is now at the center of upcoming court proceedings.
Newsweek reached out to Mangione's legal team for comment.
Why It Matters
The killing of Thompson, CEO of the country's largest health insurer, has highlighted deep public frustration with the American health insurance system and ignited debate over the potential for violent acts as a form of protest.
In the wake of the crime, health insurance employees expressed heightened fears for their safety. The case has drawn both public condemnation and some support for Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges in his federal and state cases.
What To Know
According to the court filing, Mangione's diary entries chronicled months of planning. He allegedly surveilled Thompson near the Midtown hotel the night before the killing.
An August 15, 2024, entry read: "I finally feel confident about what I will do. The details are coming together. And I don't feel any doubt about whether it's right/justified. I'm glad in a way that I've procrastinated bc it allowed me to learn more about UHC."
It said that after considering another target, he chose the health insurance industry.
"The target is insurance. It checks every box," the August entry read.
Mangione's red notebook, seized during his arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, contained statements allegedly explaining his rationale for targeting UnitedHealthcare and seeking maximum public impact. He reasoned that attacking the CEO at an annual investor event was "targeted, precise and doesn't risk innocents."
Quote:Wes Moore, the Governor of Maryland, has said there is "no evidence" the 2,000-gallon (7,570-liter) diesel fuel spill in Baltimore's harbor is currently impacting drinking water.
Crews in Baltimore were racing to contain the fuel spill that began at Johns Hopkins Hospital and spread over a mile to a marina in the city's harbor, prompting a coordinated response from local, state and federal agencies through the night and during Thursday morning.
Moore, writing on X, said: "UPDATE ON OIL SPILL: As of this morning, we have no evidence to suggest there is any impact on drinking water in the area.
"But we still have more work to do.
"We ask that everyone use alternate routes AWAY from Harbor East to help ensure our emergency crews can do their jobs."
Quote:Former President Joe Biden has called the investigation into his competence to serve during his term in the White House "nothing more than a distraction."
President Donald Trump directed the White House on Wednesday to probe Biden's executive actions, including pardons and the alleged use of an autopen for signatures. The inquiry also alleges Biden's top aides masked his "cognitive decline."
"Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn't is ridiculous and false," Biden said in a statement.
"This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations."
Why It Matters
Trump's order marks a significant escalation in his targeting of political adversaries, and could lay the groundwork for claims that a range of Biden's actions as president were invalid.
However, the president's pardon power is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, and Trump has presented no evidence that Biden was unaware of the actions taken in his name.
What To Know
In a memorandum on Wednesday, Trump ordered his White House counsel, in consultation with the attorney general, to investigate whether "certain individuals conspired to deceive the public about Biden's mental state and unconstitutionally exercise the authorities and responsibilities of the President."
The memo said the investigation would look into "any activity" to "purposefully shield" the public from information about Biden's physical and mental health, documents that were signed by autopen, and those who directed the use of it.
Trump has frequently suggested that Biden was wrong to use an autopen, a mechanical device that replicates a person's authentic signature.
The Justice Department, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, has recognized the use of an autopen to sign legislation and issue pardons for decades.
Biden's age and health were top concerns among voters during his presidency.
Quote:President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to join talks on Iran's nuclear program and may help bring the negotiations to a close. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump described an "over hour-long" call with Putin, during which they discussed Iran, nuclear weapons, and Russia's response to a Ukrainian drone strike.
Trump wrote both leaders agreed that Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon," and claimed Putin suggested he could "be helpful" in reaching a quick resolution. He also accused Iran of "slow walking" talks and urged urgency.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House as well as the Kremlin and Iran's foreign ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
An offer from Putin to join the nuclear negotiations would coincide with a growing strategic alliance between Russia and Iran, both of which seek to counter Western power.
Russia's entrance into the nuclear talks could add pressure to Iran, but it could also shift the diplomatic balance away from Washington's preferred framework. It also marks a moment where Moscow, despite its war in Ukraine and increasing isolation from the West, asserts its role in shaping high-stakes global security issues.
What to Know
According to Trump, Putin said he would be willing to join discussions and "could, perhaps, be helpful" in pushing Iran toward a final nuclear agreement. While Russia was previously a party to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—a multilateral agreement that placed limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief—it has taken a backseat amid shifting diplomatic dynamics and the U.S. withdrawal under Trump's prior administration.
After the call, Putin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed Trump's account, saying the U.S. president believed "Russia's assistance may be necessary" and would welcome Moscow working with the Iranian side.
Quote:A North Carolina high school student who was suspended in April 2024 for using the term "illegal alien" during class has secured a $20,000 settlement, a public apology, and the removal of references to racial bias from his school record, according to court documents first obtained by The Carolina Journal.
The settlement between the Davidson County Board of Education and the student's family is pending judicial approval in federal court.
"On Friday, we filed a motion asking the court to approve a settlement that would resolve this matter. Because Christian is a minor, a court hearing is required before the settlement can become final," Dean McGee, Senior Counsel for Educational Freedom, Liberty Justice Center, which is representing student Christian McGhee, adding, "We'll have more to say after that hearing, which is currently scheduled for July 1st. We're pleased to take this important step toward clearing our client's name."
Newsweek reached out to the school district via email for comment on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
This case raised national questions about free speech, students' rights, and school discipline policies in the United States.
The legal dispute tested the limits of First Amendment protections in educational settings, and the resulting settlement has been cited as a notable development in debates over language, race, and disciplinary practices in public schools.
The story has garnered widespread media attention and sparked discussion about the balance between promoting inclusive school environments and safeguarding constitutionally protected speech.
What To Know
The Davidson County Board of Education agreed to issue a public apology, pay $20,000 in compensation, and expunge all references to racial bias from the student's school records as part of a lawsuit settlement, according to filings with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Quote:Eight young adults have been charged in connection with a mass shooting at a North Carolina house party earlier this month, with four facing more than 10 counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office.
Several others have been charged with aiding and abetting and accessary.
Newsweek has reached out to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office and the FBI Charlotte office for comment via email on Saturday.
The Context
Law enforcement responded to reports of people being shot at a residence in Catawba County, approximately an hour north of Charlotte, around 12:45 a.m. on June 1. Twelve victims were reported, one of whom died.
"The investigation indicates more than one shooter was involved in the incident," Major Aaron Turk of the Catawba County Sheriff's said in a June 1 press conference, later noting that "more than 80 shots were fired."
An estimated 130 to 160 mass shootings have occurred in the United States so far this year, according to data from the Mass Shooting Tracker and the Gun Violence Archive.
What To Know
Over the past week, law enforcement officials, working with the FBI, have arrested several people in connection with the shooting, for charges related to attempted murder, accessory, and aiding and abetting.
Although the victims at the party range in age from 16 to 58, the suspects are young adults. The deceased victim has been identified as 58-year-old Shawn Patrick Hood of Lenoi, North Carolina.
Quote:The Kremlin confirmed a Ukrainian attack on the Kerch Bridge that connects Russia to Crimea, but said the crossing remains operational and there was no damage, despite video footage capturing the moment an underwater explosion rocked the structure.
Ukraine's security service (SBU) revealed on June 3 it had carried out a special operation targeting the Crimean bridge, saying it had mined the underwater supports and the explosions left it "in disrepair." It was followed by a naval drone attack.
It was the third attack against the Crimean Bridge—a strategically important road and rail structure, and a symbol of Moscow's occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula—since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Why It Matters
The Crimean Bridge is a critical supply and transport route for Russian forces in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The Kerch Bridge is also a physical representation of Moscow's view that the peninsula is an inseparable part of Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. Ukraine regards Crimea as its territory and the Russian occupation as temporary, and says it will never recognize Moscow's sovereignty.
What to Know
The SBU's latest operation against the bridge follows its mass drone strike on Russia's nuclear-capable strategic bombers on June 1—dubbed by some observers as "Russia's Pearl Harbor"—delivering a double blow for Moscow.
In a post on Telegram, the SBU said its agents had mined the underwater supports of the bridge in an operation months in the planning, detonating the first device at 4:44 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
The SBU said it had "badly damaged" those supports with the explosives, which had the blast equivalent of 1,100 kilograms of TNT. "In fact, the bridge is in disrepair," the SBU said.
Quote:China urged all parties involved in the Russia-Ukraine war to cool down the conflict in response to Kyiv's stunning Operation Spiderweb against Russian airfields, which destroyed a number of Moscow's strategic nuclear bombers deep inside Russia.
The operation has been dubbed "Russia's Pearl Harbor" because of its shock value and significance. Ukraine said it hit 41 aircraft in total, causing an estimated $7 billion of damage, in a major material and psychological blow to Russian security.
Russia and China have deepened their strategic partnership over the course of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Beijing has supported Russia's war economy through large-scale oil purchases after Western allies imposed tough sanctions over the invasion.
Asked by Newsweek about the recent Ukrainian operation, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, DC, said China's position is "consistent and clear".
"It calls on all parties to abide by the 'three principles' for cooling down the situation, namely, no spillover of the battlefield, no escalation of the conflict and no fanning the flames," the spokesperson said.
"China will continue to maintain communication with the international community and play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the crisis."
Quote:Kazakhstan's defense ministry said it is investigating the "appearance of unidentified objects in the sky," after footage widely circulated on social media claimed to show a botched launch of Moscow's experimental Oreshnik missile.
Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Russia fired its Oreshnik missile for the first time at Ukraine in November, targeting a Ukrainian military site in the central city of Dnipro.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the missile as a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), able to travel long distances at 10 times the speed of sound, or Mach 10.
Ukrainian authorities initially reported Moscow had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and had traveled up to Mach 11. The Pentagon later said the missile was modeled on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh ICBM.
Moscow said the missile was impossible to intercept and able to carry nuclear warheads. Footage showed the missile carried six warheads which slammed into different targets close to one another in Dnipro.
Ukraine on Sunday launched coordinated drone attacks on multiple Russian air bases across the country, with one official claiming to have destroyed 13 Russian aircraft.
Quote:During his Wednesday phone call with President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to respond to Ukraine's large-scale drone strike on military aircraft.
Trump shared details of his 75-minute call with Putin in a post to Truth Social.
Despite Putin's threat, Trump described the call as a "good conversation" but acknowledged it was not one "that will lead to immediate Peace."
Why It Matters
Ukraine's operation "Spider's Web" saw a large-scale and simultaneous series of drone strikes against air bases in Russia on Sunday. SBU sources said the strike attacks included Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk Oblast, 2,500 miles from the front line in Ukraine.
The drones were transported to Russia, hidden in trucks with retractable roofs, which were parked near the air bases. The drones were then launched remotely. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes had destroyed 34 percent of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers.
Pro-Russian military bloggers compared the strikes to the Imperial Japanese Navy's December 7, 1941, attack on Hawaii's Pearl Harbor.
What Did Trump and Putin Discuss?
Wednesday's phone call was the first time Trump has spoken to Putin since he warned the Russian leader he was "playing with fire" by attacking Ukraine during peace talks.
Trump said he spoke to Putin for more than an hour, with the pair discussing the recent attacks as well as "other attacks that have been taking place by both sides."
Quote:Russia plans to seize half of Ukraine by the end of next year, according to Kyiv, which has released a map outlining purported territorial expansion plans that could put Moscow on a collision course with President Donald Trump's repeated calls for peace talks.
Ukrainian Presidential Office Deputy Head Colonel Pavlo Palisa made the claims, and they were followed by Trump warning that he would use further sanctions against Moscow if the war dragged on.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and the Kremlin for comment.
Why It Matters
The map presented by Kyiv shows territorial intentions far beyond the formal demands Moscow has made before it would agree to a ceasefire. But Trump has warned of further sanctions on Russia if it drags out peace negotiations.
A bipartisan sanctions bill in the U.S. seeks to impose a 500-percent levy on imports from countries that buy Russian oil and raw materials.
What To Know
Palisa told reporters Thursday that Russia intends to capture all of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by September 1 and create a buffer zone along the northern Ukrainian-Russian border by the end of this year.
Palisa also said Moscow intended to occupy all of Ukraine on the east (left) bank of the Dnieper River and capture the regions of Odesa and Mykolaiv by the end of 2026, which would deprive Ukraine of access to the Black Sea.
Why It Matters
The map presented by Kyiv shows territorial intentions far beyond the formal demands Moscow has made before it would agree to a ceasefire. But Trump has warned of further sanctions on Russia if it drags out peace negotiations.
A bipartisan sanctions bill in the U.S. seeks to impose a 500-percent levy on imports from countries that buy Russian oil and raw materials.
What To Know
Palisa told reporters Thursday that Russia intends to capture all of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by September 1 and create a buffer zone along the northern Ukrainian-Russian border by the end of this year.
Palisa also said Moscow intended to occupy all of Ukraine on the east (left) bank of the Dnieper River and capture the regions of Odesa and Mykolaiv by the end of 2026, which would deprive Ukraine of access to the Black Sea.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) published a map Palisa had presented. It pointed to Moscow's plans to seize roughly 85,000 additional square miles of Ukrainian territory and hold a total of 129,000 square miles by the end of 2026, over half the total area of Ukraine.
Yuriy Boyechko, founder of Hope for Ukraine, which helps those living on the front line, told Newsweek that Moscow will not stop its current offensive until December and warned that it will occupy new regions of Ukraine by the end of 2025.
However, the Washington, D.C., think tank ISW said Friday that Russian forces are highly unlikely to be able to make the advances Palisa suggested in this time frame, given the current pace of Moscow's advances, and if Ukraine continues to receive Western aid.
The ISW said that Palisa's map suggests Moscow will try to seize and leverage positions in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions to push on and capture all of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Quote:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview that aired on Sunday revealed the difficulty that followed the high-profile blowup between himself and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in late February.
Zelensky, speaking with ABC News' Martha Raddatz in Ukraine, described the situation as "quite complicated" as he had to try and repair relations with his American counterpart.
"It's important that I defend my position and I was trying to do that in the Oval Office," he said.
Why It Matters
Trump had said he would end the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours of retaking office, but later he admitted that the situation was fairly complicated, at times saying that Ukraine is "more difficult, frankly, to deal with." Trump also said he worried Russian President Vladimir Putin may be trying to drag out peace negotiations while pressing on with the war that began in February 2022.
The lack of progress has prompted Trump to start taking a more laid-back approach to the conflict, best encapsulated last week when he compared the warring nations to "young children fighting like crazy...in a park."
"You try to pull them apart and they don't want to be pulled apart," he said. "Sometimes you have to let them fight for a while."
What To Know
Trump and Zelensky had a falling out on February 28 when the Ukrainian leader visited the White House to sign a deal that would grant the U.S. access to his country's vast mineral reserves in a move the U.S. assured would create strong economic ties and deepen the threat to Russia continuing to escalate the conflict.
In the now-famous exchange, Zelensky asked about the value of deals when Putin had broken previously agreed upon ones, which in turn provoked an angry response from Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Trump declared that Zelensky had "no cards" to play in the conflict and needed the U.S. to have any chance of survival.
Quote:Kharkiv has been hit by a barrage of Russian drones, missiles and bombs in what has been described as the biggest attack Ukraine's second-largest city has faced in Vladimir Putin's invasion.
"Kharkiv is facing the most powerful attack it has had in the entire full-scale war," posted Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram after strikes overnight Friday that other officials said had killed at least three people and injured 19.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
Russia launched a mass missile and drone strike against Ukraine the previous night, which targeted major cities, including the capital Kyiv, and the far-western regions.
There had been anticipation over Moscow's response to Ukraine's bold drone attacks earlier in the week, dubbed Operation Spiderweb, which Kyiv said had taken out of commission one-third of Russia's air-bomber fleet. Later attacks also damaged the construction of the Kerch Bridge between Russia and Crimea.
What To Know
Kharkiv Oblast is in Ukraine's northeast and located along the war's front line, is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide-bomb attacks from across the border.
At least 40 explosions were reported across Kharkiv overnight Friday, as civilian targets were struck by drones, including a nine-story residential building, local enterprise, a home, and other facilities, officials said.
Terekhov reported that 48 Shahed drones, two missiles, and four guided aerial bombs were launched toward the city, in particular its Osnovyanskyi and Kyiv districts.
At least three people were killed and 18 injured. Among the latter were two children, including a 1-month-old baby, according to local authorities.
Quote:Ukraine has struck a Russian train carrying military equipment, destroying 13 tanks and more than 100 armored vehicles
The Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine posted about the Saturday attack, along with multiple others, on social media.
Why It Matters
Ukraine's attack marks a significant tactical gain as it continues to pressure Russian logistics and supply chains.
The strike on a Russian freight train transporting military equipment—particularly locomotives hauling armored units—deals a substantial blow to Moscow's ability to reinforce its front-line positions quickly.
What To Know
Kyiv also had to "repel" multiple Russian assaults, the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine said, with five taking place near Malynivka and toward Poltavka.
Two Russian attacks near Piatykhatky and toward Pavlivka "on the position of our defenders" were described as "useless."
In the 24 hours leading up to Saturday, Ukraine recorded more than 800 Russian attacks using different types of kamikaze drones and had itself carried out more than 350 drone strikes, dropping around 450 munitions.
In the southern region, Russian forces carried out 12 airstrikes in the past 24 hours with a total of 47 guided bombs hitting settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Front-line towns and villages in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions were hit by artillery and drone attacks.
In total, 41 attacks were recorded in 22 different places. In the Kherson region, two people were killed and 10 others were injured due to the shelling, according to Kyiv.
Russian forces would also purportedly try to seize Kherson Oblast and create a "buffer zone" along the border in northern Ukraine by the end of this year.
But neither of these scenarios is likely in this period, the ISW said. In Donetsk, Russia had only advanced around 30 miles from the outskirts of Avdiivka in the last 15 months. Moscow would struggle to capture the rest of Kherson region, which required crossing the Dnieper River, the ISW added.
Quote:Russian soldiers have advanced into Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, the Moscow's Defense Ministry has said.
Why It Matters
Moscow is pushing into new territory in a region which has remained under Ukrainian control throughout the conflict, while simultaneously blaming Ukraine for stalling peace negotiations.
Russian control of the Dnipropetrovsk region, just west of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, would mean a threat to Kyiv from the southeast.
What To Know
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a post on Telegram on Sunday: "Units of the 90th Tank Division of the Center Forces Group have reached the western border of the Donetsk People's Republic and continue to develop the offensive in the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region."
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) maps do not yet show the invasion of the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to analysis by the independent Russia-language news channel Agency News.
However, the maps show that the combat zone is located in close proximity to the region's border, according to OSINT project DeepState.
Pro-Russian blogger Yuriy Podolyaka wrote about the announcement on Telegram, saying: "As they say in such cases, now officially…But in fact, we have already entered there on a fairly wide front."
Russian TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov was one of several who previously claimed that the Russian army had entered Dnipropetrovsk in May.
Quote:Moscow's economy is sliding toward the brink of "stagflation," according to a new report published by a Russian economics research organization close to the country's government.
The report's author, Dmitry Belousov, head of analysis and forecasting of macroeconomic processes at the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (CAMAC), said that the "economic dynamics" in Russia are "rapidly declining, with a risk of a technical recession in the second and third quarters" of 2025.
Why It Matters
After the invasion of Ukraine, Russia's economy has been seriously affected by sanctions imposed by Western countries trying to cripple its ability to finance the war, but it crucially avoided entering a recession. Now, however, the economy is facing a risky combination of factors—including rising prices, slowing growth and an acute labor shortage—that is threatening its stability and outlook.
In a sign that the Kremlin is aware of how fragile the country's economic position currently is, Russia's central bank cut its key interest rate to 20 percent on Friday, down from a two-decade high of 21 percent.
What To Know
According to the report released earlier this week and authored by Belousov, GDP growth in Russia slowed down to 1.4 percent in Q1 2025 compared to a year earlier. While inflation is slowing down, it remains very high, at 9.8 percent.
While slowing investments in machinery and equipment has played into this slowdown, Belousov said that it has been accelerated by "growing problems in construction," with the number of new projects now declining, and falling consumer demand, especially when it comes to non-food products. According to the report, consumer spending has been stagnating since mid-2024.
Quote:A United States amphibious warship capable of projecting military power from sea to shore has begun its transit to Japan—the U.S.'s ally in Northeast Asia—for forward deployment.
The deployment of USS Tripoli—an America-class amphibious assault ship—demonstrates Washington's commitment to the defense of Japan, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said on Monday. It added, "The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires the most capable ships."
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense and Foreign ministries for comment by email.
Why It Matters
According to the U.S. Navy, amphibious warships are "capable of sailing in harm's way" and enabling rapid combat power buildup ashore in the face of opposition. The Tripoli and other U.S. amphibious assault ships resemble small aircraft carriers, as they can carry fighter jets.
China, which challenges the U.S.'s naval dominance in the western Pacific Ocean with the world's largest navy by hull count, has been rapidly building its own amphibious force for a potential island-landing campaign across the contested Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.
Japan, which hosts 55,000 U.S. military personnel, is part of the first island chain—along with Taiwan and the Philippines—under the U.S.'s maritime containment strategy, which seeks to restrict China's access to the wider Pacific Ocean through U.S.-aligned territories.
What To Know
The Tripoli departed Naval Base San Diego in California on May 19 to forward-deploy to Sasebo in Japan, the U.S. Pacific Fleet announced, adding that the deployment was part of a "scheduled rotation" of forces in the region, as the Tripoli would replace its sister ship, USS America.
Quote:The Philippines has released footage showing Chinese maritime forces operating near its largest outpost in the South China Sea's disputed Spratly Islands archipelago.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Philippine military for comment via written requests.
Why It Matters
China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, citing "historical rights," which puts it at odds with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and Indonesia. In 2016, an arbitral tribunal in the Hague dismissed the sweeping claims featured in China's "nine-dashed line" map as incompatible with maritime law. Beijing rejected the decision.
The Philippines has mounted a stiff challenge to expanding Chinese activities in its exclusive economic zone. The resulting standoffs between Chinese and Philippine government vessels have raised concerns that Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington could pull the U.S. into a conflict with its East Asian rival.
What To Know
On Wednesday, the People's Television Network, a Philippine state-owned broadcaster, released footage showing Chinese vessels operating off the coast of Thitu Island, well within the 12-nautical-mile (13.8-mile) territorial sea claimed by Manila.
The ships included a Chinese coast guard cutter, a People's Liberation Army Navy warship and what appeared to be two vessels from China's so-called Maritime Militia. The agency did not specify when the footage was taken.
Administered by the Philippines since 1971, Thitu is the largest of the Spratly Islands under the country's control and hosts a small permanent population.
Quote:Chinese officials responded to complaints on Thursday over export controls on rare earth elements—a group of metals crucial to a range of technologies, from electric motors to missile guidance systems.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
Why It Matters
China dominates the rare earth industry, accounting for 70 percent of mining and 90 percent of chemical processing. The imbalance is an Achilles' heel for Washington, which sees dependence on its top military rival as a national security threat.
Beijing exploited this vulnerability in April, curbing exports of seven rare earths after President Donald Trump raised tariffs. The restrictions, along with investment bans on 17 American companies, were loosened last month after the United States and China reached a 90-day ceasefire in Geneva, Switzerland.
Negotiations have since stalled. Trump has accused China of violating the agreement, without specifying how. Beijing believes Washington breached the consensus by tightening export controls on AI chips produced by Chinese tech giant Huawei "anywhere in the world" and by planning to revoke Chinese student visas.
What To Know
U.S. officials have said the country is still withholding rare earth shipments and magnets. European car manufacturers have complained of disruptions, and Japanese automaker Suzuki has reportedly halted production due to a parts shortage.
Asked about the restrictions during the Chinese Ministry of Commerce's regular press conference, spokesperson He Yadong said it was "international practice" to maintain export controls on rare earths, citing their dual-use civilian and military applications.
"The Chinese government will review applications for export licenses related to dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations, and will approve those applications that meet the requirements to facilitate compliant trade," he said.
Quote:China has accused President Donald Trump of causing severe disruption to global supply chains after he doubled the United States' steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 percent.
Trump hiked the Section 232 tariffs in a proclamation that took effect on June 4, after reevaluating the impact of importing large quantities of the metals, which he says pose a threat to national security because they undermine domestic production.
He Yongqian, spokesperson for the Chinese Commerce Ministry, stated at a press briefing on Thursday that China has "repeatedly emphasized that the Section 232 tariffs are typical unilateralist and protectionist actions."
She said the World Trade Organization (WTO) determined they violated its rules, state media reported.
"The U.S.' latest tariff hike on steel, aluminum, and their derivatives not only harms others and itself, failing to enhance industrial security, but also severely disrupts the stability of global industrial and supply chains," the spokesperson said.
"China urges the U.S. to respect economic laws, abandon zero-sum thinking, stop overstretching and abusing the concept of national security, uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system, address concerns through equal dialogue, and work together to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains."
Quote:Anew framework for resolving state-to-state disputes may be viewed by China as means of further extending its influence in the Global South—but some observers say the newly minted International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) is more show than substance.
China was joined by 32 other founding members on May 30 for the launch ceremony, where Beijing's top diplomat Wang Yi hailed the IOMed as "an example of civilization's belief in harmony."
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department and Chinese Foreign Ministry with emailed requests for comment.
Why It Matters
Unlike existing institutions such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and the International Court of Justice, the IOMed aims to facilitate the resolution of international disputes through bilateral mediation.
That dozens of nations—from Indonesia to Serbia—have already signed on signals China's growing influence at a time when the United States under President Donald Trump retreats from global institutions like the World Health Organization and cuts funding for long-standing tools of American soft power such as USAID.
What To Know
In his remarks at the signing ceremony, Wang praised the newly minted framework as filling an "institutional gap" while aligning with Chinese President Xi Jinping's preference for resolving disagreements through dialogue and consultation.
"China has been actively exploring ways of hotspot issue settlement that carry the Chinese touch, so as to lend our thoughts to countries seeking to resolve problems or disagreements with others," Wang said.
He added that the IOMed had been conceived in accordance with the United Nations Charter and would promote decision-making on an egalitarian basis in pursuit of "win-win outcomes."
Quote:China has deployed naval vessels beyond an island chain in the Western Pacific—a strategic barrier to contain its forces—passing through waterways near Japan, a close United States ally.
Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines form the First Island Chain—an arc of allied territories aimed at limiting China's access to the broader Western Pacific under a U.S. containment strategy. The Chinese navy is the world's largest by hull count, with more than 370 vessels.
The Chinese military has frequently used waterways around Japan—including the Osumi Strait and the Miyako Strait—for naval deployments beyond the First Island Chain. Beijing claims that it is exercising its rights under an international maritime law treaty.
Since mid-May, China has sent multiple warships to waters east of the First Island Chain, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry—including a naval task group led by the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning and another centered around the amphibious assault ship CNS Anhui.
What To Know
The Joint Staff of the Japanese Defense Ministry reported that two Chinese naval vessels—the Type 055 destroyer CNS Lhasa and the Type 054A frigate CNS Weifang—transited the Osumi Strait, south of Japan's main island of Kyushu, between Wednesday and Thursday.
Quote:North Korea has righted a naval ship that capsized and was damaged during a botched launch in May, restoring its balance and mooring it to a pier, state media confirmed.
The launch failure was an embarrassment for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the incident and scolded the officials responsible, later saying they would be held criminally liable.
The destroyer is now set for repairs in the Rajin Dockyard over the next 10 days, North Korea's KCNA reported, with a deadline for its "perfect restoration" set by Kim for before a major party congress in late June.
Why It Matters
Kim is trying to modernize North Korea's navy, part of a broader revamp of the armed forces. The North Korean navy is a modest fleet largely made up of aging warships and smaller fast attack craft.
Pyongyang is also pressing forward with its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
What To Know
Outside experts say it remains unclear how severely the 5,000-ton-class destroyer was damaged. Kim called the failure a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism."
The destroyer became unbalanced and was punctured in its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the stern section slid off and became stuck, KCNA said at the time.
North Korean law enforcement authorities have detained at least four officials over the incident, including the vice director of the Workers' Party's munitions industry department, according to state media.
North Korea's main military committee said those responsible would be held accountable for their "unpardonable criminal act."
Quote:In a significant diplomatic step with implications for global alliances, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced he will attend the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, this month, after being invited by Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney's office confirmed the invitation was made in a call with Modi.
Why It Matters
Modi's attendance at the G7, of which India is not a member, signals an improvement in the relationship between India and Canada after a very rocky period and came after reports that no invitation would be forthcoming for Modi this year, triggering criticism of Modi from his political opponents.
India's association with the G7 group of industrialized democracies underlines its strategic importance for the United States and its allies at a time of growing geopolitical polarization.
While India is the world's largest democracy, it is also part of the BRICS alliance alongside Western rivals China and Russia, making the world's most populous nation a key pivot point in global affairs. Russia was excluded from what was formerly the G8 in 2014 after annexing Crimea.
What To Know
Prime Minister Modi took to X on Friday to announce he had received and accepted a personal invitation from newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Modi posted: "Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit."
The Carney-Modi call marks the highest-level dialogue between the two countries since ties soured under his predecessor Justin Trudeau's government.
Carney's new administration appears to have shifted to a more pragmatic tone: prioritizing trade, diaspora ties, and democratic values over lingering espionage-related disputes. India, for its part, views reengagement as a sign of Western acknowledgment of its strategic indispensability.
India-Canada relations have been in the deep freeze since September 2023, primarily stemming from Canadian allegations—vigorously denied by India—linking Indian agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader.
Canada's intelligence service had also identified India as one of the countries that could attempt to meddle in Candian elections.
Quote:Births in Japan fell to a record low last year, according to newly released government data, as the country faces a deepening demographic crisis.
Newsweek has contacted the Japanese Foreign Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Japan's steadily declining births and overall aging population present serious long-term risks, threatening to sap the world's fifth-largest economy of vitality and strain its social welfare system.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has labeled the trend a "quiet emergency" and made reversing it a central pillar of his agenda.
What To Know
The number of babies born to Japanese citizens in 2024 fell to 686,061, a 5.7 percent drop from the previous year, according to statistics the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare released on Wednesday. It marked the first time since 1899, when record-keeping began, that annual births fell below 700,000.
For the 18th consecutive year, deaths outpaced births, resulting in a net population loss of 919,237, the ministry said.
Japan's fertility rate also declined, falling to 1.15 expected births per woman—down from 1.2 in 2023. A rate of 2.1 is widely considered the replacement threshold for a stable population without large-scale immigration.
Japan is not alone. China and Taiwan face similar demographic declines, while South Korea—which has the distinction of having the world's lowest fertility rate—joined Japan last year as a "super-aged society," meaning people 65 and older make up 20 percent of the population.
What People Have Said
Kei Nishiuchi, the CEO of SoujouData Inc., a data science consultancy in Tokyo, told the Fuji News Network: "As the number of elderly increases and the working-age population shrinks, we're starting to see an impact on the economy's overall productivity. Even the very assumptions behind how our society redistributes resources—such as who pays taxes and who provides eldercare—are being called into question.
Quote:The United States on Wednesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The Context
The U.S. has played a key role as an interlocutor in ceasefire talks between Hamas and the Israeli government with respect to Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip.
Israel launched its military offensive against Gaza in retaliation against Hamas for its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Since the war started, tens of thousands of Gazans have been killed and millions have been displaced.
What To Know
The U.S. was the only Security Council member nation to vote against this week's measure, which called for humanitarian aid to be allowed to resume in Gaza.
All 14 other members of the council voted in favor of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "catastrophic" and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory.
For a Security Council resolution to pass, it must receive nine votes with no vetoes from its five permanent members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
The U.S. has vetoed four resolutions calling for ceasefire since Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel. It abstained from voting on one resolution, allowing it to pass last year.
The U.S.'s acting ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, told the Security Council before the vote that the resolution would undermine Israel's security. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, thanked the U.S. for its vote and said the resolution's failure to made the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas a condition for the ceasefire would have handed Hamas "time, leverage and political cover."
Quote:A representative of a left-wing faction fighting alongside the Islamist Hamas movement in Gaza has told Newsweek his group is open to a temporary ceasefire in their war with Israel and called for greater efforts to establish a unity government among different Palestinian parties.
Amid an apparent deadlock in Israel-Hamas negotiations being mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) issued a statement on Friday urging Hamas "to intensify efforts, in cooperation with the Arab mediators, to reach an agreement to halt the aggression—even if only for 60 days."
The message, which emphasized "the grave dangers our people face if an immediate ceasefire is not achieved," came as Hamas said it was consulting with its allies on the path forward in talks. Hamas has demanded a deal that would provide stronger guarantees toward a lasting cessation of hostilities, a position the U.S. and Israel have dismissed.
Speaking with Newsweek on Thursday, DFLP Political Bureau member Motasem Hamada explained that this statement "was an attempt by us to reach a 'partial step' that would guarantee a ceasefire, open the crossings, and meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza because we observed that living conditions had worsened and that the specter of famine was beginning to loom large."
"Our call to Hamas coincided with other positions with which Hamas consulted," Hamada said, "and based on this position, it formulated its position, which was rejected by the Israelis and the Americans."
Ultimately, Hamada said, the group seeks a solution based on United Nations Security Council resolution 2735, the measure put to a vote Wednesday and vetoed by the U.S., and is fighting to secure new governance that would include both top Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, which leads the West Bank-based Palestinian National Authority.
"We want an immediate ceasefire, unconditional aid for our people in the Gaza Strip (food, medicine, fuel, infrastructure, medical care, etc.), an Israeli withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip, a meaningful prisoner exchange, and the return of the Gaza Strip to the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority under the administration of a national unity government."
"This requires convincing both Fatah and Hamas," Hamada said, "and this is what we are working on."
Quote:Threats from both Iran and Israel are intensifying, pushing them closer to direct military conflict in an already volatile and war-torn region. Alongside Israeli military drills, stalled diplomatic talks, and proxy skirmishes, these hostile warnings signal a dangerous escalation.
Why It Matters
A potential full-scale war between Iran and Israel would further destabilize an already volatile Middle East, with serious implications for global security. Iran's missile advancements and unwavering position on nuclear enrichment, combined with the firm red lines set by the U.S. and ongoing, yet slow moving, attempts at diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, have intensified tensions. Such a conflict could disrupt global oil supplies, involve international powers, and deepen regional instability.
These five critical indicators highlight just how fragile the situation has become:
1. Iran's Missile Fuel Shipments
Iran has reportedly ordered thousands of tons of ammonium perchlorate from China, a key ingredient for producing solid-fueled ballistic missiles, aiming to reinforce its military capabilities. According to The Wall Street Journal, the materials, which could be used to manufacture up to 800 missiles, are expected to be delivered in the coming months, and some may be distributed to Iranian-aligned militias, including the Houthis in Yemen. The procurement appears to be part of Iran's strategy to strengthen its regional alliances and missile arsenal as it resists limiting its missile development in nuclear talks.
2. Israel Ready to Strike
Israel is actively preparing for a possible strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, contingent on the outcome of ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted extensive military drills simulating a multi-day offensive against Iranian targets, underscoring the seriousness of these preparations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized Israel's right to defend itself and declared that any agreement must block Iran from enriching uranium. While Trump recently cautioned Netanyahu that a strike would be "inappropriate" while diplomacy continues—saying the sides are "very close to a solution"—he has also left open the possibility of supporting action if talks collapse.
3. Iran-Linked Militias
Tensions between Israel and Iran are rising through proxy forces in the region. On Wednesday, Israel launched rare airstrikes in Syria—its first in nearly a month—after two projectiles were fired from Syrian territory. Israel blamed Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, while Damascus denied aggression and reported heavy losses. According to a report by Reuters, a Syrian official suggested Iran-backed militias in the country's Quneitra region may be provoking retaliation to destabilize the area. Around the same time, Yemen's Houthis launched a ballistic missile at Jaffa in support of Palestinians. This growing coordination among Iranian-linked militias signals a dangerous expansion of the conflict beyond the core Iran-Israel axis.
Quote:Israel's government has ordered the country's military to intercept the humanitarian ship carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists to Gaza and stop it from reaching the embattled territory.
"I have instructed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act so that the Madleen does not reach Gaza, and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end," Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement published on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, referring to the vessel carrying the Swedish activist.
Why It Matters
Israel's 11-week blockade of aid into Gaza was condemned by activists, NGOs and even some of the country's closest allies, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government repeatedly ignored calls to ensure Palestinians in the occupied territory receive enough food and humanitarian assistance to avoid starvation.
While Israel has recently allowed aid into Gaza under the management of U.S. contractors, the delivery of lifesaving essentials to the Palestinian population has been botched, with several people being killed by Israeli gunfire in a series of incidents at an aid distribution center.
The U.N.'s humanitarian chief said that the aid allowed into the Gaza Strip now by Israel was just "a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed."
Thunberg, possibly the most prominent climate activist in the world, is onboard the Madleen flotilla together with 15 other people to bring aid to Gaza directly, picking up where she says Western governments are failing. But the success of the humanitarian aid ship's mission is in doubt as the Israeli government shows a strong hostility to the activists' plan.
What To Know
According to the latest update provided by the crew aboard the ship, Thunberg and her fellow activists were getting closer to Gaza and had reached Egypt on Saturday after having left from Catania, Italy, a week ago.
The activists, who come from several countries across Europe and the world, expect to broadcast their arrest once they reach Gaza. They may not make it that far, based on Katz's statement.
Quote:Asenior Iranian official has announced that Tehran is drafting a counter-proposal to the latest U.S. offer on its nuclear program, rejecting the American plan as insufficient and "clumsy."
The statement came as President Donald Trump warned time is running out for Iran to make a decision regarding its nuclear ambitions, revealing that Russian President Vladimir Putin may join the negotiations.
Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV that the U.S. offer fails to address a primary demand, which is the lifting of sanctions.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and Iran's foreign ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The renewed push on negotiations underscores the urgency. While the U.S. seeks to curb Iran's uranium enrichment, Tehran is refusing to scale back without economic concessions. With Russia possibly entering the fray, the geopolitical stakes are rising in a region already mired in instability. Trump's framing of Iran's delay as deliberate "slow walking" adds new pressure to a rapidly narrowing diplomatic window. Iran's insistence on its "natural rights" could complicate efforts to revive a negotiated solution.
What to Know
Ali Shamkhani criticized the U.S. proposal as poorly constructed and lacking critical elements. He said Iran was already working on a new response. "After receiving the American proposal regarding the Iranian nuclear program, we are now preparing our new counter-proposal," he stated. Shamkhani underscored that the absence of sanctions relief rendered the U.S. plan unacceptable. He called the omission a "fundamental" failure and reaffirmed Iran's position that it would never give up uranium enrichment, a key component of its nuclear program.
'Time Running Out'
Meanwhile, Trump criticized Tehran for what he described as deliberate stalling. Writing on social media, he said, "It is my opinion that Iran has been slow walking their decision on this very important matter. We will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time." Trump also revealed that Putin could play a role in negotiations over Iran's nuclear ambitions, following an extended phone call between the two leaders. "We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly," Trump stated.
Quote:Iran is importing thousands of tons of missile fuel materials from China as it works to rebuild its diminished military capabilities following Israeli strikes and the weakening of its regional proxies, according to a new report.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Tehran has arranged for a shipment that includes ammonium perchlorate—used in solid-fuel ballistic missiles—which could enable the production of up to 800 missiles.
Newsweek has reached out to Iran and China's foreign ministries for comment.
Why It Matters
The shipment underscores Iran's push to restore its missile capabilities after Israeli strikes damaged key facilities and weakened its regional influence. It also reflects deepening ties with China as both face mounting U.S. pressure.
The development comes as nuclear diplomacy remains fragile: while the Trump administration has signaled openness to an agreement, it demands limits on Iran's regional and nuclear activities. Tehran seeks sanctions relief and security assurances.
What to Know
The shipment from China includes thousands of tons of ammonium perchlorate, a vital chemical oxidizer for producing solid-fuel ballistic missiles. This volume could enable the manufacture of up to 800 missiles and is expected to arrive in phases over the coming months, although Iran has not officially confirmed the deal. In response to Iran's expanding missile program, the U.S. recently sanctioned multiple individuals and entities in both Iran and China involved in procuring missile propellant materials.
Iran's Military Setbacks
The missile fuel shipments come as Iran seeks to recover from Israeli strikes that targeted its missile production facilities and proxy forces across Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. These Israeli attacks were carried out in response to Iranian missile and drone assaults on Israeli targets, marking a cycle of escalating retaliation between the two countries. Despite temporary setbacks to Tehran's regional influence and military capabilities, the latest procurement signals Iran's determination to rebuild its strength amid ongoing tensions.
Port Explosion
An earlier shipment of missile fuel materials from China was linked to a devastating explosion at a major port in southern Iran, killing at least 70 people and injuring hundreds more. While Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed the shipment, state media reported that the blast was caused by accidental mishandling of highly volatile materials.
Quote:Turkey's ambitious naval expansion is taking shape as new details emerged about its first homegrown aircraft carrier, Mugem, now under construction in Istanbul.
With design and system integration work ongoing, priority will be given to homegrown aircraft, including unmanned combat drones and light jets, according to statements by Captain Hakan Uçar, director of the Turkish Navy's Design Project Office, reported by Jane's OSINT on Friday.
Newsweek has reached out to Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries, overseeing defense projects, for comment.
Why It Matters
Turkey's defense industrial growth signals Ankara's drive to assert greater strategic autonomy and its importance both within NATO and for the Middle East under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Turkey's expanding naval and air defense capabilities—including a fifth-generation fighter jet —could also change global defense industry dynamics.
What To Know
About 285 meters long and 72 meters wide, Mugem will weigh arounds 60,000 tons and should carry up to 50 aircraft, with two runways for takeoff and one for landing, according to a description on the Turkish government's Directorate of Communications' website.
The ship will have a flight deck built for aircraft to take off from a short runway and land safely, known as the STOBAR system, according to Jane's OSINT, a prominent open-source intelligence and defense analysis provider.
Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, lacks a full-sized traditional aircraft carrier; its largest ship, the amphibious assault vessel TCG Anadolu, serves mainly as a drone carrier but has limited capabilities compared to a true carrier.
"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.
Quote:President Donald Trump called for more troops to enter Los Angeles amid rioting in the Californian city that stemmed from protests against immigration enforcement.
The Republican president is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to L.A. to quell turmoul on the streets, despite opposition from Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
Of those, about 300 National Guard troops were on the ground by Sunday morning, Newsom's office told ABC News.
"Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!" President Trump posted to his Truth Social platform in the early hours of Monday morning.
Why It Matters
Protesters have been demonstrating against the Trump administration's ICE raids in the city. Hundreds of protesters and federal immigration authorities in riot gear have clashed for three nights running.
The clashes highlight deepening conflicts between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal immigration policy, as Trump has implemented sweeping changes through executive orders and utilized the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand deportation authority.
Quote:Dramatic footage, above, showed two motorbike riders trying to break through police lines during the protests in Los Angeles against immigration enforcement in the city.
Newsweek has contacted the Los Angeles Police Department, via email, for comment.
Why It Matters
Protests have rocked Los Angeles at the weekend, with demonstrators attempting to deter immigration raids and detentions by federal officials seeking to deport those in the U.S. illegally.
While the raids are following legal directive from federal authorities, protests have erupted amid reports that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building. ICE denied these allegations, with a spokesperson previously telling Newsweek the agency "categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles."
Scenes have turned violent, showing with burning cars and protesters seen hurling heavy objects at police vehicles.
President Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops to quell the unrest, despite opposition from state and local leaders, who accused him of fanning the flames.
What To Know
The first rider, draped in the national flag of Guatemala, can be seen revving his engine and driving from the crowd through the police line, though he was quickly stopped and forced off his bike.
Shortly after, a second motorbike rider tries the same, bursting through the line and colliding with an officer before falling off and also being detained.
As riot officers fired rubber bullets toward the crowd, voices can be heard yelling "stay on the line" and "hold the line."
Quote:More than a dozen cops were forced to flee their vehicles and shelter beneath an underpass as their cars were pelted with rocks thrown by protesters in Los Angeles on Sunday.
The demonstrators were on the streets to march against a wave of immigration raids ordered by President Donald Trump. The group of California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers appeared trapped as they hunkered beneath the bridge while missiles rained down, including – at one point – an electric scooter.
The chaos erupted in a cacophony of noise, as cars on the other side of the freeways honked their horns, rocks smashed into vehicles, and explosions from flash-bangs or firecrackers rocked the area.
Newsweek has reached out to California Highway Patrol by email seeking comment.
Why It Matters
The incident, which unfolded on Sunday afternoon, occurred during increasingly violent protests against a series of immigration raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE], which have targeted businesses and day laborers as they gathered for work across the city.
Trump has deployed the National Guard to LA, sparking condemnation from California Governor Gavin Newsom who said the move was a "breach" of state sovereignty and was "intentionally designed to inflame the situation."
What To Know
Sunday brought a third day of tensions as police and protesters faced-off across the city. Some skirmishes involved the use of tear gas and rubber bullets by authorities, while elsewhere demonstrators torched cars and thew make-shift missiles at the authorities.
Quote:President Donald Trump has responded to Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom's dare to "arrest" him over his response to the ongoing protests against raids by Los Angeles Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Trump was returning to the White House on Monday, when he was asked by reporters about Newsom's taunt to border czar, Tom Homan. "I would do it, if I were Tom," Trump said. "It would be great."
Newsom has condemned Trump's comments, in a post on X, calling them an "unmistakable step to authoritarianism."
Why It Matters
Wide-scale protests broke out in L.A. on Saturday after ICE carried out multiple raids across the city. The situation rapidly escalated after the Trump administration deployed the National Guard, despite objections from Newsom and other state and city officials.
While the raids are based on federal authorities' legal directives, protests have broken out following reports that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building. ICE denied these allegations, a spokesperson previously telling Newsweek the agency "categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles."
What To Know
Homan vowed over the weekend to continue the ICE raids everyday despite the protests, and warned that anyone who tried to interfere could face federal charges, including elected officials.
When asked if that could include Newsom or L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, Homan suggested it could.
"I'll say it about anybody," Homan told MSNBC. "You cross that line, it's a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It's a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job."
Both Newsom and Bass have criticized the border czar's comments, the L.A. mayor calling the threat "unnecessary" and saying she won't brawl with the federal government.
A defiant Newsom told Homan to "come and get me."
"Trump's border czar is threatening to arrest me for speaking out," Newsom vowed in a post on X. "Come and get me, tough guy. I don't give a damn,"
Quote:he area around San Francisco was rocked by an earthquake on Sunday night, as downtown demonstrations took place against federal immigration raids and President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles.
The 3.3-magnitude quake in California struck about 1 mile northwest of Pinole, about 20 miles north of downtown San Francisco, shortly after 9:30 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). There have been no reports of any injuries or damage to buildings.
Newsweek reached out by email, outside of usual working hours on Monday, to the office of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, seeking further information and comment.
Why It Matters
A "community internet intensity map" on the USGS website revealed self-reports from more than 4,000 people who said they had felt the tremors. The respondents had submitted their experiences via the agency's "Did You Feel It?" questionnaire, and the data has not yet been checked or verified by scientists. Some "light" or "weak" shaking was reportedly felt across San Francisco, Berkeley, Concord, and northwards up toward Santa Rosa.
Protests in San Francisco began on Sunday in solidarity with Los Angeles against federal immigration enforcement, with isolated incidents of violence and looting. In response, Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to restore order, without California Governor Gavin Newsom's consent.
Laughable indeed. They should better thank God it wasn't a 6 or 7-magnitude quake instead.
Quote:Authorities are investigating a deadly plane crash that occurred Sunday afternoon about 5 miles off the coast near San Diego, where a small aircraft carrying six people went down into the Pacific Ocean shortly after takeoff.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported discovering a debris field near Point Loma, and launched a coordinated search operation in waters approximately 200 feet deep. As of Monday, all six people aboard the plane have been confirmed dead, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Context
This incident follows a string of aviation accidents in Southern California in recent months. In May, six people were killed when a private jet crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego, and another crash that month resulted in three fatalities and nine missing after a boat capsized nearby.
The current crash site is not far from those previous incidents.
What To Know
According to the FAA, the twin-engine Cessna 414 took off from San Diego International Airport at approximately 12:30 p.m. Sunday and was en route to Phoenix. The flight was returning to Arizona after departing from there a day earlier, according to FlightAware.
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot signaled distress, reporting he was struggling to maintain heading and altitude. Air traffic control instructed the aircraft to climb to 4,000 feet, but the pilot said the plane was only at 1,000 feet. Controllers attempted to guide him to land at a U.S. naval airport on Coronado Island, but the pilot responded that he couldn't see the runway. Moments later, he issued repeated "Mayday" distress calls before radar contact was lost.
FAA records reviewed by Newsweek show the aircraft was registered to Optimal Health Systems, a nutritional supplements company based in Pima, Arizona. However, the company clarified in a statement that it sold the aircraft in 2023 to private individuals and that the FAA's database may be outdated.
Quote:Former Vice President Kamala Harris defended the "overwhelmingly peaceful" protesters in her home state of California while criticizing President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops as a "dangerous escalation" and "cruel" on the third consecutive day of violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.
The protests, which began last week in response to federal immigration enforcement operations by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have escalated into sustained confrontations involving rock-throwing, alleged Molotov cocktails, burning vehicles, and arrests across multiple Los Angeles locations.
...
Trump's administration has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history and has conducted numerous ICE raids, some of which have swept up individuals with proper documentation.
The president announced on Saturday evening that he had authorized the mobilization of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles after violence against law enforcement—specifically, ICE agents carrying out deportation raids in the city.
While the raids are following legal directive from federal authorities, protests have erupted amid reports that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building. ICE denied these allegations, with a spokesperson previously telling Newsweek the agency "categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles."
The clashes highlight deepening conflicts between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal immigration policy, as Trump has implemented sweeping changes through executive orders and utilized the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand deportation authority.
This reminds me of the reporter that once claimed that one of the Antifa protests that took place about 5 years ago was peaceful as well. It didn't matter if the scenario where they were broadcasting from was full of tires and even whole cars burning like crazy. Not to mention the protesters were also firing at people and breaking into stores back then.
Quote:California Republican lawmakers are largely backing President Donald Trump's decision to send the National Guard into Los Angeles amid immigration protests, with Representative Kevin Kiley telling Newsweek that the president chose to "protect federal officers and LA citizens because Governor Newsom has refused to do so."
Why It Matters
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have conducted raids across the country and have faced large protests in Los Angeles, as Trump's administration pledged to carry out the largest mass deportations in U.S. history.
While the raids are following legal directive from federal authorities, protests have erupted amid reports that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building. ICE denied these allegations, with a spokesperson previously telling Newsweek the agency "categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles."
The clashes highlight deepening conflicts between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal immigration policy, as Trump has implemented sweeping changes through executive orders and utilized the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand deportation authority.
Trump deployed 2,000 California National Guard troops to quell the protests in Los Angeles, sparking opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, who has said the move is "unlawful" and a "serious breach of state sovereignty." Some Republicans in the state, however, are siding with the president.
What to Know
Representative Kiley responded to Trump's move to call in the National Guard in a statement to Newsweek.
"The acts of violence, lawlessness, and obstruction we are seeing in Los Angeles pose an ongoing risk to public safety," Kiley said. "The President has chosen to protect federal officers and LA citizens because Governor Newsom has refused to do so. I am praying for everyone's safety during this time."
He said ICE officials are looking for "illegal immigrants with criminal convictions and existing deportation orders" and criticized Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their handling of the situation, accusing them of choosing to "obstruct and interfere with these standard operations."
Quote:Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has reacted following mass protests in Los Angeles over President Donald Trump's immigration agenda, urging the Mexican community there to remain peaceful.
During her daily press briefing on Monday, Sheinbaum condemned reported acts of violence over the weekend: "We do not agree with violent actions as a form of protest. Burning police cars appears to be more an act of provocation than of resistance. We condemn violence, no matter where it comes from. We call on the Mexican community to act pacifically and not allow itself to be provoked."
Why It Matters
Protestors clashed with federal authorities over the weekend in response to the White House's immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles. On Sunday morning, the first wave of up to 2,000 National Guard troops arrived in the city following the outbreak of demonstrations two days earlier. California Governor Gavin Newsom has since urged the federal government to reconsider the deployment and transfer control back to the state.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is facing widespread backlash as it moves forward with what it calls the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history. Newsweek has revealed dozens of cases of non-violent immigrants being detained by federal agents.
While these raids are being conducted under federal authorities, protests erupted after reporters emerged that detainees were allegedly being held in the basement of a federal building. ICE has denied the allegations.
The clash between protestors and law enforcement casts a spotlight on the growing tensions between sanctuary cities and the federal government as Trump's White House reshapes immigration policy with sweeping enforcement measures.
Quote:Iran has seized on violent protests rocking Los Angeles to mock the United States, ramping up social media taunts and state media headlines.
As federal immigration raids triggered days of unrest and National Guard deployment, Tehran's outlets amplified scenes of chaos to question American stability and governance. The trolling reflects broader tensions between the two nations, with Iran eager to capitalize on U.S. domestic turmoil.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and Iran's foreign ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
By amplifying scenes of chaos tied to immigration enforcement, Tehran aims to portray the Trump Administration as fractured, authoritarian, and morally compromised at a time of tense nuclear negotiations and long-term strains.
Against this backdrop, Iran is leveraging social media and state media to frame the U.S. as unstable and hypocritical—part of a broader strategy to weaken its global credibility amid deepening diplomatic tensions.
What to Know
Iran's state-linked outlets have ramped up efforts to mock the unrest in Los Angeles, taking direct aim at former President Donald Trump's signature slogan.
The Tehran Times ran a bold front page reading "Make America Quashed Again," a clear play on "Make America Great Again." On social media, a military-affiliated X account echoed the jab with the caption "Make Mexico Great Again!" over a photo of a protestor waving a Mexican flag —tying the border crisis to America's internal chaos. The coordinated barbs cast the U.S. as destabilized and in decline, turning Trump's branding against him.
Quote:Costco has recalled potentially contaminated products including Coca-Cola's Topo Chico Mineral Water and a selection of Fresh & Ready Foods' sandwiches, in six states.
The Coca-Cola recall applies to Costco shoppers in Texas and Louisiana, while those in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington should be aware of the Fresh & Ready Foods recall.
Newsweek has contacted Costco outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The recalls target a wide geographic area and involve widely consumed items, raising safety concerns among Costco's large U.S. membership base.
The sandwiches were recalled due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause listeriosis.
Listeriosis can result in fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. The infection can also be fatal in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
The Coca-Cola product was recalled due to possible contamination with pseudomonas, a bacteria found naturally in water sources, which can cause Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. It can affect your skin, blood, lungs, GI tract and other parts of your body, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
Quote:Mass protests across the country are being scheduled for Tesla CEO Elon Musk's birthday on June 28, led by the Tesla Takedown movement.
Despite no longer being part of the government, Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) policies and his continued impact as a private citizen are still being felt across the country, from mass governmental layoffs to his involvement in running companies with large government contracts.
The "Musk Must Fall" protests are planned for cities across the country, including in "red" states of Texas, Missouri, Georgia, and Ohio, with the Tesla Takedown team saying: "And our birthday gift to the Broligarch in Chief? A global party with one powerful message: Musk Must Fall."
Tesla has been contacted via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Musk retains a lot of power over global politics as he is capable of endless donations to political parties and aiding in message amplification as the owner of X (formerly Twitter).
According to public polls, he was an unpopular member of the Trump administration and, since leaving, has been in a public feud with President Donald Trump. Despite some political commentators recommending that Democrats try to win Musk and his billions over to their side, these protests show that Musk is still a deeply unpopular figure in American politics.
What To Know
Protests are planned for June 28 in 15 states: Virginia, California, Washington, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, Idaho, Ohio, Missouri, as well as the District of Columbia. There are also protests planned overseas in the UK.
Quote:Some U.S. states are attempting to ban Chinese citizens from buying land and property, amid souring diplomatic relations between the countries.
By 2024, more than two thirds of states had enacted or considered laws limiting or barring foreign land ownership including states that specifically mention China by name, according to POLITICO.
According to the non-profit membership organization the Committee of 100, in total 27 states have considered this kind of legislation. However, the group has not shared a list of those states.
Newsweek has rounded up a non-exhaustive list of states that have been involved in this kind of legislation, based on publicly available information. Some states do not name China explicitly, but name foreign nations that would likely include China.
Why It Matters
There has been a wave of concern over Chinese land purchases in the United States, some of which have taken place close to military bases. This comes amid soaring tensions between the U.S. and China including trade clashes between the two giants and national security concerns.
However, as of USDA data accurate to 2023, Chinese investors own land in the U.S. equivalent to roughly twice the size of the footprint of New York City.
What To Know
A number of states have considered legislation on the issue. In May, the Texas legislature passed a bill to ban people tied to the governments of China, North Korea, Russia and Iran from purchasing land in the state.
In January, Republican senators in Arkansas introduced the Not One More Inch or Acre Act which would prohibit any Chinese citizen, entity or foreign person acting on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from purchasing public or private real estate in the U.S.
Quote:Ukrainian drones struck two major facilities supplying Russia's military on Monday, dealing a double blow to President Vladimir Putin's war machine.
The facilities struck in early morning attacks were a plant in the Chuvash Republic, which produces navigation systems for Russian drones and missiles, and a gunpowder factory in Kazan, according to local reports.
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Why It Matters
Kyiv's efforts to target Russian military facilities will impact Putin's war effort in Ukraine. Efforts led by Washington to bring an end to the conflict are faltering, and both sides have launched large-scale attacks in recent weeks.
What To Know
On Monday morning, local media reported that Ukrainian drones struck a facility producing electrical equipment for Putin's military, located some 900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border in the Russian city of Cheboksary in the Republic of Chuvashia.
The head of the republic, Oleg Nikolaev, confirmed the attack. He said in a post on his Telegram channel that the facility suspended operations after it was struck by two drones.
No casualties were reported, he said.
The ASTRA Telegram channel, a project run by independent Russian journalists, published a video that appears to show the aftermath of the strike on the facility.
"Several explosions have rocked Cheboksary in the Chuvash Republic. Thick black smoke is visible over the city," the channel said.
Local residents reportedly saw at least two drones over the city before at least six explosions were heard and black smoke observed. Air defense systems were activated.
Ukrainian news outlet Focus said a second facility—"a gunpowder factory"—was struck in Kazan, a city in southwest Russia.
Quote:An F-16 fighter jet given to Ukraine reportedly shot down an advanced Russian plane thanks to the assistance of a Swedish reconnaissance aircraft.
German newspaper Bild said the Russian Sukhoi Su-35 jet had been downed in the northeast of the country in an operation it described as a "historic first."
Earlier, Ukraine's Air Force had said Saturday it had downed a Su-35 in Russia's Kursk Oblast, although it gave no further details.
The details of the incident reported by Bild and Ukrainian social media users have not been independently verified. Newsweek reached out to the Russian and Ukrainian defense ministries for comment.
Why It Matters
The fourth-generation F-16s arrived in Ukraine to much fanfare after the Biden administration finally allowed Kyiv's allies to provide them in a move that was hoped to change the battlefield calculus.
If confirmed, the operation in which an F-16 worked with a Swedish reconnaissance plane to down a Russian fighter would highlight a new level in Ukraine's aviation capabilities.
What To Know
During a fight on Saturday in the northeastern Sumy region, Ukraine's Air Force used its fighter jets to bomb Russian positions inside the country and in Russia's nearby Kursk region, Bild reported. The outlet said Russia sent a high-tech Sukhoi Su-35 "air superiority fighter" into battle to down the Ukrainian fighter jets, but the Russian pilot "flew into an ambush."
Ukraine had deployed a Swedish Saab 340 AEW&C (Early Warning and Control) reconnaissance aircraft, which had been discreetly tracking the Russian jet from hundreds of miles away.
Quote:The Ukraine war won't end until NATO withdraws troops from the Baltics, a top Russian official has warned.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister responsible for U.S. relations, nonproliferation and arms control, made the remarks in an interview with state-run news agency Tass.
Newsweek has reached out to the Kremlin and NATO for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Ryabkov's comments mark a shift in the Kremlin's position. He suggested that the conflict's roots lie not only in Ukraine itself but in NATO's eastward expansion. According to Ryabkov, the withdrawal of NATO forces from the Baltics would help bring an end to the war.
What To Know
NATO maintains a strong military presence in the Baltic States, with multinational battle groups and brigades stationed in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
The military alliance bolstered its presence in the region in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It said in an update on June 6 that the eight battle groups "demonstrate the strength of the trans-Atlantic bond and the Alliance's solidarity, determination and ability to respond to any aggression."
Also, Sweden and Finland have switched from being neutral to joining NATO since the invasion.
The Kremlin had said Ukraine must abandon its ambitions to join NATO as a condition for ending the war, but Ryabkov appeared to signal to Tass that the alliance must withdraw completely from the Baltics as well.
Quote:Russian leader Vladimir Putin has approved a development strategy for Russia's Navy for the next 25 years, one of his key aides has said.
Nikolai Patrushev, who heads Russia's Maritime Board, told media that the Russian president had last month signed off plans for the Navy until 2050.
Retired U.S. Vice Admiral Robert Murrett told Newsweek on Monday that it was difficult to see how the strategy can transform Russia into one of the world's future leading naval powers.
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Russia has the world's third-most-powerful navy after China and the U.S. but it has faced setbacks in the Ukraine war due to Kyiv's drones and missile attacks, which pushed much of Moscow's Black Sea Fleet back from its main base in Crimea.
Amid its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia's military resources have been strained as Putin ramps up defense spending to record levels.
Patrushev's announcement highlights Moscow's long-term planning to keep its status as a naval power in the face of Western sanctions and military setbacks, raising questions about future security and geopolitical stability in the region.
What To Know
Patrushev, a former head of the FSB who has close ties to Putin, told the publication Arguments and Facts that the Russian president had approved on May 30 the "Strategy for the Development of the Russian Navy up to 2050."
Quote:The proportion of Russians who view the U.S. as the most hostile country towards Moscow has almost halved over the last year, according to a survey.
The poll by the independent Levada Center found 40 percent of respondents agreed that the U.S. was the most hostile nation towards Russia, down from 76 percent in 2024.
Aleksei Miniailo, an independent Russian sociologist who founded a separate polling group called Chronicles, told Newsweek Monday that the Levada figures show how fragile the effect of anti-U.S. propaganda in Russia actually is.
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Why It Matters
The Kremlin and its propagandists have framed Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a proxy war with the West, regularly issuing nuclear threats towards Kyiv's allies.
However the Levada center polling shows shows that this antipathy towards the U.S. is not shared by most Russians, which could be a backdrop to a thawing of ties between the countries since President Donald Trump came into office.
What To Know
The Levada Center asked 1,613 Russian adults between May 22 and May 28 about their attitudes to different countries in a poll with a margin of error no greater than 3.4 percent.
Quote:ndia is preparing to bolster its intelligence and surveillance capabilities with the acquisition of advanced I-STAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) aircraft, in a major boost to the Air Force's ability to counter challenges posed by Pakistan and China, according to news reports.
Newsweek has reached out to India's Defense Ministry and the Pakistani government for comment.
Why It Matters
The reports follows the worst confrontation in decades with Pakistan and underlined India's plan to strengthen aerial reconnaissance and to reduce reliance on foreign arms.
Pakistan performed strongly in air combat in May with the help of jets from China, which is another strategic rival of India's and is also locked in territorial disputes.
Tensions remain high between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, despite U.S. diplomatic efforts that helped bring about a ceasefire.
What To Know
The project, at an estimated cost of 10,000 Indian Rupee (approximately $1.2 billion), involves integrating indigenous sensor systems onto foreign-made airframes and is expected to be reviewed by the defense ministry, according to news agency ANI, citing defense officials.
The systems for I-STAR have been developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) which integrates advanced airborne surveillance platforms for the Indian military. The I-STAR could mark a leap in the Indian Air Force's (IAF) ability to conduct precision strikes and monitor enemy movements.
Quote:India concluded a massive two-day air combat drill along its southern border with Pakistan, according to multiple Indian news outlets.
Newsweek has reached out to the Indian Defense Ministry and the office of Pakistan's prime minister for comment.
Why It Matters
The exercise took place nearly a month after India launched its military campaign "Operation Sindoor" targeting Pakistan in their biggest confrontation in decades following a deadly attack on a tourist bus in Kashmir that killed 26 people. Pakistan denied Indian accusations of involvement in that attack.
Four days of fighting was marked by an extensive air battle, one of the largest dogfights since World War II, before the two nuclear rivals reached a ceasefire agreement following U.S. diplomatic efforts.
What To Know
The Indian Air Force issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) earlier this week for a large-scale exercise scheduled for June 7 and 8, taking place in Rajasthan's southern sector near the Pakistan border. Aircraft deployed included the Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Sukhoi-30, according to Indian outlets including Firstpost, The Shillong Times, and Mathrubhumi English.
In May, Pakistan said it shot down several Indian planes, including the French-made Rafale and Russian Sukhoi, with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar saying Chinese J-10C jets were used in the operation.
Diplomatic tensions have continued despite a ceasefire agreed under U.S. pressure. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Pakistan of disrupting infrastructure development in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack, Reuters reported Friday.
Quote:The most-advanced but yet-to-be-commissioned Chinese aircraft carrier, CNS Fujian, was reportedly conducting operations in the disputed waters near South Korea, a United States ally.
Newsweek has reached out to the South Korean Foreign Ministry for comment by email. The Chinese Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
Why It Matters
China and South Korea established the Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) in the Yellow Sea under a 2000 agreement, where their 230-mile-wide exclusive economic zones (EEZs) overlap. In late May, China declared "no-sail zones" within the PMZ for military exercises.
What To Know
China has the largest navy in the world by hull count, with over 370 ships and submarines—including two aircraft carriers in active service. Its third carrier, the Fujian, is continuing sea trials as part of its "construction process," the Chinese Defense Ministry previously said.
Unlike its predecessors, which use a ski-jump flight deck for aircraft takeoffs, the Fujian is equipped with electromagnetic catapults, enabling it to launch heavier aircraft. A Pentagon report said that the warship is expected to become operational in the first half of 2025.
Citing "multiple South Korean government sources," the local newspaper The Chosun Ilbo reported on Friday that the Fujian conducted flight operations with carrier-based aircraft in the PMZ from May 22 to 28, while three Chinese "no-sail zones" in the area were in effect.
The report said this was the first time a Chinese aircraft carrier conducted such operations in the PMZ. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed to the newspaper that it had tracked and analyzed the Chinese naval activity, which lasted less than a week.
Quote:AChinese navy aircraft carrier has breached a second Pacific island defense line that is intended to keep the East Asian power's forces at a distance.
Newsweek has emailed the Pentagon and the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The United States has established three island chains across the Pacific Ocean. The first, closest to China, is formed by three U.S. allies and partners—Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. The second, centered on Guam—America's westernmost territory—stretches from Japan to New Guinea, just north of Australia. The last one links Alaska's Aleutian Islands with New Zealand via Hawaii.
While the U.S. maritime containment strategy aims to restrict China's naval access to the broader Pacific Ocean during wartime, the Chinese navy—the largest in the world by hull count—has repeatedly breached the First Island Chain as it expands its reach and presence, including a high-profile, long-range mission that circumnavigated Australia earlier this year.
What To Know
The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning has been underway since late May, when it was first spotted in the East China Sea, west of the First Island Chain. It then passed through the Miyako Strait in Japan's southwestern waters and entered the Philippine Sea. It was previously tracked on May 30 while sailing southward in waters east of the Philippines.
A Chinese naval task group—consisting of the Liaoning and three other vessels—was tracked operating about 186 miles southwest of Minamitorishima (with shima meaning "island" in Japanese) on Saturday, the Japanese Defense Ministry said in a press release.
Minamitorishima is Japan's easternmost territory, located over 1,200 miles southeast of the country's capital, Tokyo. It has valuable mineral resources, including rare earth elements, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which administers the remote island.
Quote:At least four people have been injured following an explosion near a U.S. military air base in Japan.
Local and defense ministry officials said that four Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (SFD) members suffered slight injuries following the incident at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa on Monday.
Officials said the explosion took place during bomb disposal operations. Newsweek has contacted the SFD for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Okinawa hosts most of the U.S.' military facilities in Japan. Japanese media reported that the country's 101st Unexploded Ordnance Disposal Unit at the Kadena site has disposed of more than 1,890 tons without any accidents so far.
What To Know
A team from a explosives disposal unit in the 15th Brigade of the SFD was at the facility on the grounds of a U.S. military base in Yomitan Village, Okinawa Prefecture.
The unit is responsible for the disposal of unexploded ordnance dropped on the island during World War II, and had previously disposed of more than 1,890 tons and over 40,000 cases without incident.
During World War II, the U.S. military dropped about 200,000 tons of ammunition, around 10,000 tons of which remains unexploded, according to the newspaper Sankei.
Japanese news outlet NHK said that unexploded ordnance blew up at around 11:20 a.m. Monday [10:20 p.m. ET Sunday] local time after a shell exploded while it was being examined for rust.
Emergency services attending the scene said that four Japanese personnel suffered injuries which included finger lacerations and possible hearing damage, but none were life threatening.
NHK said its helicopters captured footage of the ammunition depot area at around 1 p.m. where personnel had gathered around a tent next to a vehicle that deals with unexploded ordnance.
Unexploded ordnance from the Battle of Okinawa 80 years ago is found daily and collected by the disposal team and taken to a temporary storage facility in Yomitan Village to assess further risk.
In reporting Monday's incident, Japanese media noted how the SDF had been established after a modified land mine exploded next to a kindergarten in Naha City, in March 1974, killing four people and injuring 34.
Quote:Japan's Defense Ministry says two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted in the Pacific during the past three days. The ministry says it was the first time the two vessels have entered the Pacific simultaneously.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed that a fleet of five warships was navigating about 550 kilometers southeast of Miyakojima Island, Okinawa Prefecture, on Saturday afternoon, according to the ministry. The fleet included the Shandong aircraft carrier and a guided missile destroyer.
Officials said fighter jets and helicopters were seen taking off and landing on the Shandong on Monday when it was in Japan's exclusive economic zone north of Okinotorishima, the nation's southernmost island.
Another Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was spotted sailing within Japan's EEZ around Minamitorishima Island, which is part of Tokyo's Ogasawara Islands, on Saturday. Officials said the Liaoning was still in nearby waters on Monday, after it conducted aircraft takeoff and landing drills the day before.
The Liaoning and the Shandong are China's only two active aircraft carriers.
The ministry suspects that China's navy is trying to improve the operational capabilities of the warships, including long-range functions. Officials have continued caution and surveillance of the situation.
Quote:China's exports to the United States tumbled in May amid tit-for-tat import tariffs between the world's two biggest economies.
Chinese customs authorities say US-bound shipments slumped 34.5 percent in dollar terms from the same month last year.
Imports from the US sank 18.1 percent.
Beijing and Washington imposed tariffs of more than 100 percent in April.
However, some of the heat came out of the trade dispute in May as both sides agreed to cut back the levies and sit down for talks.
The next round of negotiations is set for London on Monday. China is sending Vice Premier He Lifeng, who heads up economic policy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be there for the US.
Quote:A high court in South Korea has said it will postpone the retrial of President Lee Jae-myung on charges of violating election law.
Local media have reported that it is very unlikely the retrial will go ahead while Lee remains in power.
South Korea's Supreme Court ruled in May, before Lee's victory, that he had violated election law by making false statements during his failed 2022 presidential bid. It sent the case back to the Seoul High Court after overturning an earlier ruling clearing him.
The high court announced on Monday it will indefinitely postpone the first hearing, which was scheduled for June 18.
The court said the move was based on the Constitution, which basically exempts sitting presidents from criminal prosecution.
Legal experts are divided over whether a sitting president's immunity extends to trials already underway. Neither the Constitution nor the law address the matter.
But South Korean media have reported the high court appears to have decided to shield Lee from standing trial during his term.
Lee is facing other criminal trials that some say put him at judicial risk. The ruling Democratic Party is reportedly pushing for legal revisions that halt trials while Lee is in office.
Quote:Iran's intelligence minister has said the country holds a vast trove of classified Israeli documents and plans to release them soon. The files detail Israel's nuclear program, foreign relations, and defense capabilities, according to state media.
The Israeli government has not commented on the claim, which comes amid rising tensions between the two countries and renewed scrutiny of Iran's own nuclear activities.
Newsweek has reached out to the Iranian and Israeli foreign ministries for comment.
Why It Matters
The disclosure adds a new layer of uncertainty to a region already on edge. Any release of secret Israeli nuclear data could destabilize diplomatic relations, provoke military retaliation, or undermine U.S.-led negotiations with Tehran. The episode also highlights the deepening mistrust between Iran and the West over nuclear ambitions, espionage, and covert operations.
What To Know
Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib said Tehran had acquired thousands of Israeli documents, describing them as a "treasure trove" capable of strengthening Iran's strategic position. He said the materials had been transferred under heavy secrecy to secure locations in Iran and would be published "soon."
"Talking of thousands of documents would be an understatement," Khatib said, adding that the transfer required "confidential" methods and a period of "media silence," according to Iran's state broadcaster.
Cyber Attacks and Espionage
Iran has not revealed how it obtained the documents it says it has or if they relate to the 2023 cyberattack on an Israeli nuclear center. State media called the transfer part of a wider intelligence campaign, highlighting its secrecy and complexity. Recent arrests of Israelis accused of spying for Tehran, though not officially linked, have raised speculation of a connection.
Meanwhile, a social media account closely linked to Iran's armed forces also posted a message in Hebrew shortly after the announcement, stating: "We know all your secrets now." The post appeared to signal a coordinated effort to amplify Tehran's claims and increase psychological pressure on Israeli officials.
Quote:Greta Thunberg became the focus of ridicule from Israeli officials and pro-government social media accounts after Israeli forces brought to an end a symbolic maritime mission aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Madleen, a British-flagged yacht carrying Thunberg and other activists, was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters and escorted to Ashdod port. Israeli authorities indicated the detained activists would be processed and repatriated; as of Monday, they were in custody. Officials dismissed the voyage as a publicity stunt, while activists accused Israel of unlawfully detaining them.
Newsweek has reached out to Thunberg's representatives as well as Israel's foreign ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The incident highlights Israel's strategy of publicly discrediting high-profile critics amid its Gaza campaign, and the global struggle over the narrative of the situation.
While Israel says that it is letting aid into Gaza, foreign aid agences describe a humanitarian disaster that has intensified during the war waged by Israel since the Hamas attack in October 2023.
The Israeli seizure and ensuing mockery of the activists came amid an already polarized debate over the fighting in the devastated territory, where the Hamas health authorities say over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed. About 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel, according to official Israeli sources and more than 200 were taken hostage, some still in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
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Interception at Sea
The Madleen set sail from Catania, Sicily, on June 1, carrying aid including baby formula, rice, medical kits, solar panels, and prosthetics. On Sunday, the Israeli navy intercepted the yacht in international waters about 115 miles (185 km) from Gaza. Shayetet 13 commandos and border units boarded the vessel.
Twelve people were aboard, including Thunberg and French politician Rima Hassan, along with journalists, medics, and civil society members. Organizers say the seizure violated maritime law and constituted kidnapping.
Quote:President Donald Trump responded on Monday to Swedish activist Greta Thunberg's claim that she was "kidnapped" by Israel while she and other pro-Palestinian advocates were on an aid boat bound for Gaza.
The Context
After the Israeli military intercepted the civilian vessel in international waters, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which operated the boat, released a pre-recorded video from Thunberg.
"If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel," the climate activist said in the clip.
What To Know
The president was asked Monday about whether he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed Thunberg during a phone call they had earlier Monday.
"Well, she's a strange person," he said. "She's a young, angry person. I don't know if it's real anger; it's hard to believe, actually. But I saw what happened. She's certainly different. Anger management. I think she has to go to an angry management class. That's my primary recommendation for her."
Trump was also asked about Thunberg's claim that she had been kidnapped.
"I find it—I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg," Trump said. "Is that what she said? She was kidnapped by Israel?"
"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.
Quote:Following the launch of Operation Rising Lion — Israel’s military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed decisive action, declaring Friday that the Jewish State will continue striking Iran “as long as necessary” to neutralize what he called an existential nuclear threat, concluding with a defiant message: “Long live Israel. Long live America,” and calling on God to “bless the forces of civilization everywhere.”
The Israeli premier framed the moment as a turning point in history, invoking both past atrocities and present dangers.
“For decades, the tyrants of Tehran have brazenly and openly called for Israel’s destruction, backing up their genocidal rhetoric with a nuclear weapons development program. In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atomic bombs — nine,” Netanyahu stated.
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Recent intelligence confirms that Iran has taken unprecedented steps to weaponize its uranium stockpile. Netanyahu warned that, if left unchecked, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a matter of months — or less than a year.
“This presents a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival,” the prime minister asserted, drawing a historical parallel. “Eighty years ago, the Jewish people suffered through the Holocaust, perpetrated by the Nazi regime. Today, the Jewish state refuses to be a victim of a nuclear holocaust at the hands of the Iranian regime.”
Reaffirming Israel’s long-standing security policy, Netanyahu reiterated: “Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to achieve that goal. Tonight, Israel backs those words with decisive action.”
As part of the military campaign, Israel struck key Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, including:
Iran’s main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz.
Iran’s top nuclear scientists involved in bomb development.
Iran’s ballistic missile program, which could soon carry nuclear payloads.
Last year, Iran launched 300 ballistic missiles at Israel, each carrying roughly a ton of explosives. Netanyahu warned that Iran’s rapid missile expansion could soon equip these warheads with nuclear payloads, creating an existential threat to millions.
“Imagine 10,000 tons of TNT landing on a country the size of New Jersey — this is an intolerable threat that must be stopped,” he stated.
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Following the October 7 massacre, Iran’s previous plan to encircle Israel with a “ring of fire” failed, Netanyahu noted, adding that Israel devastated Hamas, struck Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen, and retaliated inside Iran itself.
“Our Arab neighbors, too, have suffered from Iran’s campaign of chaos and carnage. Our strikes against Iran’s proxy Hezbollah led to the establishment of a new government in Lebanon and the collapse of Assad’s murderous regime in Syria, offering the people of those countries a chance at a better future,” he said.
Netanyahu also addressed the Iranian people, distinguishing them from their regime: “Our fight is not with you — it is with the brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years. I believe the day of your liberation is near, and when that happens, the great friendship between our two ancient peoples will flourish once again.”
Warning that Iran intends to supply nuclear weapons to its terrorist proxies, making the nightmare of nuclear terrorism a reality, he cautioned that the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile program could soon extend the nuclear threat to Europe — and eventually America.
“Iran calls Israel the ‘small Satan’ and America the ‘great Satan.’ For decades, Iran has led millions in chants of ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America.’ Today, Israel responds to those calls with action — and with our own call: Long live Israel. Long live America,” Netanyahu stated.
He also praised President Donald Trump for confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating, “he has made it clear, time and again, that Iran cannot have a nuclear enrichment program.”
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Calling Iran’s nuclear diplomacy a delaying tactic, Netanyahu declared that Israel must act now.
“Today, it is clear Iran is merely buying time, refusing to agree to this basic requirement of peaceful nations,” he said. “That is why we must act — and act now.”
Reflecting on past failures to confront rising threats, Netanyahu recalled how global leaders hesitated to challenge Hitler, leading to World War II, the deadliest conflict in human history.
“After that war, the Jewish people and the Jewish state vowed: Never again. Well, never again is now,” he warned.
Israel’s actions, the Israeli prime minister explained, stem from historical lessons: “When enemies vow to destroy you, believe them. When enemies build weapons of mass destruction, stop them.”
Quoting biblical doctrine, Netanyahu reminded Israelis of their duty: “When someone comes to kill you, rise and act first.”
“This is exactly what Israel has done today,” he continued. “We have risen like lions to defend ourselves.”
Echoing Moses’s ancient call, Netanyahu urged Israelis to be strong and courageous, adding: “Generations from now, history will record that our generation stood its ground, acted in time, and secured our common future.”
He concluded with a final call: “May God bless Israel. May God bless the forces of civilization everywhere.”
The operation continues, with Israeli forces striking additional Iranian military assets as tensions between Israel and Iran reach an unprecedented level.
Quote:Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a state of emergency after launching a strike on Iran, according to several reports.
“Two sources with knowledge of the operation” told Axios that Israel had carried out a strike on Iran.
Per the outlet, “it’s not clear whether Israel has ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear program.”
ABC News reported that Katz had declared “a special state of emergency in the country following what he called a preemptive strike against Iran.”
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Video footage posted to social media showed smoke reportedly “rising from several sites across” Iran’s capital of Tehran.
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Breitbart News previously reported that President Donald Trump expressed that he did not want Israel to launch an attack on Iran if there was a way to strike a deal with Iran regarding its nuclear program.
“I want to have an agreement with Iran,” Trump said on Thursday. “We’re fairly close to an agreement. We are fairly close to a pretty good agreement, it’s got to be better than pretty good. I’d much prefer an agreement. As long as I think there is an agreement, I don’t want them going in.”
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Quote:On Thursday’s broadcast of Newsmax TV’s “Greg Kelly Reports,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) stated that Iran made the Israeli strikes on it “inevitable” by vowing to expand enrichment, “And the effect of that was a giant middle finger to President Trump. And it was also telling Israel, you had better strike now, because if you wait any longer, we will have a nuclear weapon and we will use that to murder millions of your citizens.”
Cruz said, “I think, in many ways, what happened tonight was inevitable. It was inevitable because Iran, the ayatollah is a theocratic zealot who chants death to America and death to Israel, and, earlier today, he put us on this path, inevitably. President Trump had said repeatedly that Iran must completely dismantle their nuclear centrifuges, that they could either do so voluntarily through diplomatic measures, or the centrifuges would be dismantled through warfare. And, this morning, Iran put out a statement, said they would not dismantle their centrifuges, they were going to build more, they were going to enrich more uranium, and they were charging towards a nuclear weapon.”
He continued, “And the effect of that was a giant middle finger to President Trump. And it was also telling Israel, you had better strike now, because if you wait any longer, we will have a nuclear weapon and we will use that to murder millions of your citizens. And I think that’s — we’re seeing the direct consequences of Iran’s defiance and their genocidal desire to murder as many Israelis as possible.”
Quote:On Thursday’s broadcast of CNN’s “The Source,” Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon stated that Israel’s strikes against Iran earlier that day were undertaken because Iran was “plotting” “to attack us with nuclear capabilities.” And while Iran was engaging in negotiations with other nations, “they moved secretly with a military plan to attack Israel. And what we did was an act of self-defense.”
Danon said, “[W]e took a preemptive attack to defend ourselves and we are targeting the nuclear facilities and their ballistic missile centers in Iran. … We decided not to wait for Iran to attack us with nuclear capabilities. We knew that they were plotting to do that. And while they were talking with many countries and negotiating, they moved secretly with a military plan to attack Israel. And what we did was an act of self-defense.”
Danon further stated that Israel is protecting itself from “another Holocaust.”
Danon also stated that Israel’s goal is to deny Iran a nuclear capability and ensure that they don’t have ballistic missiles and also stated that Israel is particularly determined to act preemptively after the October 7 attacks and not wait for attacks to happen.
Quote:The commander in chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, General Hossein Salami, has been killed in Israel's strike, state media reported local time Friday.
Newsweek previously reached out to the White House via email for comment regarding the attack.
Why It Matters
Tensions in the region have escalated as Iranian Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh previously warned that Iran could attack U.S. bases if nuclear talks break down with President Donald Trump's administration or if hostilities continue to mount.
What To Know
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz first announced the strikes in a statement, saying that he initiated "a special state of emergency" in Israel following a "preemptive strike against Iran" and warned of potential drone and missile attacks against Israel and civilians.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio followed up with a statement: "Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region."
Rubio added: "Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel."
It was reported on Wednesday that the United States Embassy in Baghdad was also preparing for an ordered evacuation of nonessential personnel amid security threats in the region.
Salami leveled a threat to the United States last month, saying Iran would "open the gates of hell" if attacked by Israel or America.
He then took a swipe at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that he was trying to pull the United States into an "unending war." The general said that Iran was prepared to fight but was also still prioritizing diplomacy at the time.
An Israeli military official previously told Newsweek that the strikes were part of "Operation Rising Lion," conducted after intelligence indicated that Iran had enough material to produce 15 nuclear bombs.
The operation Friday morning local time is reported to have involved dozens of attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities, military sites and military personnel.
Quote:Iran is preparing a substantial response to a large-scale attack conducted by Israel against key sites and personnel associated with the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and military, according to official Iranian media.
"Iran's response to the Zionist regime early Friday morning attacks will be decisive," state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) cited an unnamed official as saying in the aftermath of the Israeli attacks.
Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson General Abolfazl Shekarchi also told IRNA that Israel would be met with a severe response, while alleging that the United States played a role in the assault.
"The Zionist enemy, who carried out this action with the support of America and attacked residential areas, will pay a heavy price," Shekarchi said.
Another unnamed Iranian official was cited by Reuters as saying that "the response to the Israeli attack will be harsh and decisive," adding that consultations regarding the scope and timing of retaliation were being discussed at the highest levels."
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The attacks marked the most serious escalation yet in rising tensions between archenemies Iran and Israel, which twice last year exchanged direct strikes amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.
The prior Iranian operations, known as "Operation True Promise I" and "Operation True Promise II," both saw hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones launched against Israel in April and May of last year, respectively. In both instances, the U.S. and several other nations came to Israel's defense in intercepting the incoming salvo, but damage was reported to several sites.
While previous Israeli attacks largely focused on military sites in Iran, the latest strikes, dubbed "Operation Rising Lion," involved dozens of attacks on military and nuclear infrastructure as well as personnel, including the head of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Hossein Salami.
Others reported by Iranian media to have been killed in the Israeli strikes include nuclear scientists Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi and Fereydoon Abbasi.
In the immediate aftermath of the strikes, an Israeli military official told Newsweek that intelligence had concluded Iran had obtained sufficient capabilities to produce 15 nuclear bombs, presenting an "existential threat" to Israel.
Iranian officials have always denied seeking nuclear weapons. The country's nuclear program was subject to extensive restrictions in exchange for sanctions relief as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached in 2015 under then-U.S. President Barack Obama, but the deal was abandoned by President Donald Trump in 2018.
After former President Joe Biden failed to reach an agreement to revitalize U.S. participation in the JCPOA, Trump has sought to reach a new accord that would introduce stringent checks on Iran's nuclear program. Representatives from Washington and Tehran have held five meetings, with a sixth scheduled to take place Sunday in Oman.
But the Israeli military official with whom Newsweek spoke Thursday alleged that Iran was simultaneously advancing toward a nuclear weapon, approaching the "point of no return." The same phrase was included in a statement later issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detailing suspected Iranian nuclear weapons progress.
"In recent months, accumulated intelligence information has provided evidence that the Iranian regime is approaching the point of no return," the IDF statement said. "The convergence of the Iranian regime's efforts to produce thousands of kilograms of enriched uranium, alongside decentralized and fortified enrichment compounds in underground facilities, enables the Iranian regime to enrich uranium to military-grade levels, enabling the regime to obtain a nuclear weapon within a short period of time."
"Additionally," the IDF added, "in recent years, and more so since the beginning of the war, concrete progress has been identified in the Iranian regime's efforts to produce weapons components adapted for a nuclear bomb."
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9
Maranatha!
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She is caught on VIDEO!![[Image: QrnbKlx.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/QrnbKlx.jpg)
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Laughable indeed. They should better thank God it wasn't a 6 or 7-magnitude quake instead. 
