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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
U.S. CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC OPERATIONS
The Senate yesterday voted 52-47 to advance a bipartisan war powers resolution aimed at restricting President Trump’s ability to conduct further military action in Venezuela without Congress’s approval. Five Republicans voted to take up the resolution. In response, Trump declared that they should lose their seats in Congress. The vote paves the way for a debate and vote next week on the measure. Robert Jimison and Megan Minero report for the New York Times; Robert Jimison reports for the New York Times.
The White House excluded Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard from months of planning to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro because of her previous opposition to military action in Venezuela, sources said. The move to cut Gabbard out of the meetings was so well-known that some White House aides joked that the acronym of her title, DNI, stood for “Do Not Invite,” according to three sources. Natalia Drozdiak, Kate Sullivan, Saleha Mohsin, and Nancy Cook report for Bloomberg.
Trump said yesterday that the world’s largest oil companies had pledged to spend at least $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. Trump’s remarks come ahead of a White House meeting this afternoon with a group of oil executives that Trump called “the biggest oil people in the world.” A source said that the leading oil majors remained skeptical about the plans, adding “the White House is moving down their list of oil and gas companies to call because the larger companies just aren’t interested.” James Bikales reports for POLITICO.
A U.S. Navy vessel is pursuing several sanctioned oil tankers that are heading across the Atlantic Ocean after leaving Venezuelan waters earlier this week, according to satellite imagery and a U.S. official. The ships, most of them carrying oil, are hundreds of miles from land and appear to be heading east. However, their final destinations are unclear, and some are broadcasting false information. U.S. military officials said they expect to see more boardings of sanctioned vessels. These vessels are among a larger group of 16 sanctioned tankers that made an apparently coordinated attempt to evade the U.S. blockade last weekend. Christiaan Triebert, Riley Mellen, and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times.
The Venezuelan government yesterday released a number of imprisoned high-profile opposition figures, activists, and journalists, in what officials described as a gesture to “seek peace.” Regina Garcia Cano, Megan Janetsky, and Matias Delacroix report for AP News.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
The Russian defense ministry today said that it had struck Ukraine with a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile. Russia said it had used the missile, known as Oreshnik, to hit drone-making and energy infrastructure in Ukraine. The Oreshnik can carry conventional or dummy warheads, as well as nuclear ones. The Russian defense ministry said the strike was a response to an attempted Ukrainian attack last month on one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residences, which Kyiv has denied. Andrew E. Kramer reports for the New York Times.
Russian drone strikes this morning killed four people in Kyiv, injuring at least 19 others. Reuters reports.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR – INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Ukraine yesterday awarded a bid to mine a major state-owned lithium deposit to investors, including Trump’s billionaire friend, Ronald S. Lauder. The other investor is TechMet, an energy firm partly owned by a U.S. government investment agency created during Trump’s first term. While it still requires formal approval from Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers, the officials said the deal was essentially sealed. Constant Méheut reports for the New York Times.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – CEASEFIRE
Israeli strikes across Gaza yesterday killed at least 13 people and injured around a dozen others, according to health officials. Health officials and family members said at least one child was among the dead in northern Gaza. Israel’s army said today that it had struck Hamas infrastructure and fighters in southern and northern Gaza in response to a failed projectile launched by militants from the Gaza City area. Wafaa Shurafa reports for AP News.
Israel said yesterday that it had barred entry to Gaza of foreign medical and humanitarian staff whose organizations were ordered to cease operations unless they register employee details with Israeli authorities and meet other new rules. Three aid groups confirmed that their foreign staff were told this week they could not enter Gaza. Two aid sources told Reuters that some of the 37 international nongovernmental organizations that were ordered to stop working were considering whether to submit staff names to the Israeli authorities. Olivia Le Poidevin, Nidal Al-Mughrabi, and Rami Ayyub report.
Former U.N. envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov has been chosen to direct Trump’s Board of Peace to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday. Netanyahu identified Mladenov as the “designated” director-general for the board. A senior U.S. official confirmed Mladenov is the Trump administration’s choice to be the board’s day-to-day administrator on the ground, though this has not been officially announced. Josef Federman and Wafaa Shurafa report for AP News.
OTHER GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Iran was plunged into an internet blackout yesterday, according to monitoring groups, as nationwide protests demanding the ouster of the Islamic government spread across the country. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi had called for demonstrations at 8 p.m. local time on Thursday and Friday. The internet shutdown came a day after the head of Iran’s judiciary and its security services said they would take tough measures against anyone protesting. Iranian state television’s 24-hour news channel did not acknowledge the internet outage. Farnaz Fassihi, Pranav Baskar, and Sanam Mahoozi report for the New York Times; Jon Gambrell reports for AP News.
Syria’s defence ministry this morning declared a ceasefire in three neighbourhoods in Aleppo, following clashes this week between Syrian forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Reuters reports.
Somalia’s foreign ministry yesterday denied U.S. allegations that authorities in Mogadishu destroyed a U.S.-funded World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and seized food aid, stating that the food in question was not destroyed and the aid remains under the control of the WFP. The WFP told AP News in a statement that its warehouse, containing 75 metric tons of food, in Mogadishu port had been demolished by port authorities. In a later update, the WFP said it had “retrieved 75 metric tons of nutritional commodities” without providing further details. Omar Faruk and Deng Machol report for AP News.
TECH DEVELOPMENTS
China’s Ministry of Commerce is investigating whether Meta’s acquisition of the AI start-up Manus violated Chinese laws on technology exports and outbound investment, a ministry spokesperson said yesterday. Manus is based in Singapore but was founded by Chinese engineers and had a Chinese parent company. Meaghan Tobin, Xinyun Wu, and Eli Tan report for the New York Times.
OpenAI yesterday announced ChatGPT for Healthcare, a new GPT-5 powered tool for doctors that integrates clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed research, and patient data with HIPAA-compliant safeguards. Josephine Walker reports for Axios.
U.S. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
U.S. officials have discussed sending lump sum payments to Greenlanders in an attempt to persuade them to secede from Denmark and potentially join the United States, according to four sources. While the exact dollar figure remains unclear, officials have discussed figures ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, two of the sources said. Gram Slattery reports for Reuters.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro yesterday told BBC News that he believes there is now a real threat of U.S. military action against Colombia. Ione Wells reports.
The United States will provide $45 million in assistance to Cambodia and Thailand, U.S. diplomat for East Asia Michael DeSombre announced today. “The United States will continue to support the Cambodian and Thai governments as they implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords and pave the way for a return to peace, prosperity, and stability for their people and the region,” DeSombre said. David Brunnstrom and Daphne Psaledakis report for Reuters.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said yesterday that he regretted Trump’s decision to withdraw from 31 U.N.-related agencies. “As we have consistently underscored, assessed contributions to the United Nations regular budget and peacekeeping budget, as approved by the General Assembly, are a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all Member States, including the United States,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Farnoush Amiri reports for AP News.
U.S. IMMIGRATION DEVELOPMENTS
Minnesota officials said yesterday that federal law enforcement is freezing out state investigators from the investigation into the deadly ICE shooting of a 37-year-old woman. Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Drew Evans said that BCA was originally set to jointly investigate the shooting, following a consultation with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, the U.S Attorney’s Office, and the FBI. But, federal officials soon reversed course and said the investigation would be solely led by the FBI. Evans said the decision meant that the Minnesota BCA would no longer have access to the evidence. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the move, saying that Minnesota officials “have not been cut out. They don’t have any jurisdiction in this investigation.” Cheyanne M. Daniels and Gregory Svirnonskiy report for POLITICO.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) yesterday denounced the FBI’s decision to exclude the state from the investigation, saying any probe that does not include state law enforcement cannot be trusted. “It feels very, very difficult that we will get a fair outcome.” Joseph De Avila, Joe Barrett, and Michelle Hackman report for the Wall Street Journal.
Walz also yesterday authorized the Minnesota National Guard to be staged and ready to support local law enforcement, given rising tensions in Minneapolis, according to his office, though the troops have not yet been deployed. Documents obtained by the New York Times suggest that at least 100 more federal agents were being deployed to Minnesota. Nicolas Bogel-Burroughs, Mitch Smith, and Jacey Fortin report.
Two people were injured yesterday in a shooting involving a federal agent in Portland, Oregon, according to authorities. The Homeland Security Department said the shooting occurred while Border Patrol agents were conducting a “targeted” stop on a vehicle carrying two people allegedly affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang. “When agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupants, the driver weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents,” DHS said in a statement, adding that the agent then fired a defensive shot. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson told reporters, “We know what the federal government says happened here. There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time is long past.” Trevor Ault, Alex Stone, Meredith Deliso, Luke Barr, and Jon Haworth report for ABC News.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said yesterday that she wants expanded legal options for New Yorkers negatively impacted by Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. “Let’s start holding these people accountable,” Hochul said. The governor is expected to propose a measure that would enable New Yorkers to file lawsuits in state courts against federal officials accused of violating a person’s constitutional rights. Nick Reisman reports for POLITICO.
U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
Federal prosecutors have launched a new criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, two sources told CBS News. The latest investigation centers on financial transactions between James and her hairdresser Iyesata Marsh, the sources said. “Like their earlier attempts, this attack on Ms. James is doomed to fail. The desperation of those working for Trump is palpable and makes indelible the stain already put on this Justice Department,” James’s attorney Abbe Lowell said. This abuse of justice must end.” Sarah N. Lynch and Jacob Rosen report.
A federal judge yesterday ruled that John Sarcone III has been unlawfully serving as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York. “When the Executive branch of government skirts restraints put in place by Congress and then uses that power to subject political adversaries to criminal investigations,” she wrote, “it acts without lawful authority.” Erica Orden reports for POLITICO.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS
When asked in an interview with the New York Times if there were any limits on his global power, Trump said, “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.” “I don’t need international law,” he added. “I’m not looking to hurt people.” David E. Sanger, Tyler Pager, Katie Rogers, and Zolan Kanno-Youngs report.
Vice President JD Vance yesterday announced the creation of a new position within the Justice Department charged with investigating allegations of “fraud” across the country. Vance said the new assistant attorney general, who has been selected but not announced, will initially focus on fraud in Minnesota, but it will be a “nationwide effort, because unfortunately, the American people have been defrauded in a very nationwide way.” Ben Johansen reports for POLITICO.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LITIGATION
A federal judge yesterday dismissed a lawsuit demanding that the U.S. government conduct emergency rescues of Palestinian Americans and family members who are trapped in Gaza. The judge said that she lacked the power and tools to evaluate “delicate foreign policy decisions” belonging to the government’s Executive branch. Jonathan Stempel reports for Reuters.
Five Democratic-led states yesterday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for freezing $10 billion in funding for child care subsidies, social services, and cash support for low-income families, asking a federal judge to declare the pause illegal and restore the money. Minho Kim reports for the New York Times.
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