A federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on numerous countries was an illegal use of emergency powers. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit determined that Trump overstepped his authority under emergency powers legislation, marking a significant legal defeat for his administration. The judges, in a 7-4 ruling, expressed skepticism about Congress intending to grant the President unlimited tariff authority. However, they opted not to immediately nullify the tariffs, providing the administration a window until mid-October to appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump vowed to challenge the decision, claiming it would "literally destroy the United States of America" if upheld.
In Yemen, an Israeli airstrike targeted and killed the prime minister of the Houthi rebel government, Ahmed al-Rahawi, in the capital city of Sanaa. This operation represents a significant escalation in the Israeli-U.S. campaign against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The strike occurred during a governmental workshop and resulted in multiple casualties, including other ministers and officials. The airstrike coincided with a speech by Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the group's leader, suggesting that the attack was not merely coincidental but part of a broader military strategy.
Israel is reportedly set to slow or halt humanitarian aid to northern Gaza amidst its ongoing military offensive against Hamas. Officials indicated that they would cease airdrops and reduce the flow of aid trucks to Gaza City, which has been declared a combat zone. This decision is expected to draw further condemnation both domestically and internationally as conditions deteriorate for Palestinians and remaining hostages amid nearly 23 months of conflict. The United Nations has criticized Israel's measures, stating they fall short of the required daily aid volume to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In Ukraine, a large-scale aerial assault by Russia has resulted in civilian casualties, with reports of at least one fatality and 28 others injured, including children. The attack included over 537 drones and 45 missiles, but Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have intercepted most of the threats. This escalation follows deadly airstrikes in Kyiv that killed 23 people, complicating the ongoing efforts for peace discussions that recently took place between U.S. and Russian leadership.
In Indonesia, public unrest led to a mob setting fire to a local parliament building in Makassar, killing at least three people and injuring several others. The protests were fueled by anger toward local governance and administrative issues, which also sparked violent demonstrations in other cities. The Indonesian government has since urged caution, advising foreign embassies to warn their citizens against participating in mass gatherings.
Colleges in the United States are facing financial difficulties stemming from a significant decline in international student enrollment, attributed to visa complications and changes in immigration policies under the Trump administration. For small universities like the University of Central Missouri, this decrease poses a substantial risk to their revenue sources, as international students contribute significantly to tuition income. The decline raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of educational institutions heavily reliant on foreign students.
In another development, a federal grand jury has indicted two civilian employees related to the 2021 Pearl Harbor fuel spill incident, which resulted in the contamination of drinking water affecting 6,000 residents. The indictment claims that John Floyd and Nelson Wu misled authorities about the scale of the fuel leak, which has drawn widespread backlash and calls for accountability from Hawaii residents and officials.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Trump's administration from expanding expedited deportation processes for undocumented migrants within the U.S., asserting that the move could infringe upon due process rights. The court's decision stemmed from concerns about the lack of judicial oversight in the expedited removal process. Trump has pledged to enforce a substantial deportation strategy if re-elected in 2024, aiming for one million deportations annually.
Finally, the U.S. Agency for Global Media has announced layoffs affecting over 500 employees, including a significant cut at the Voice of America. This decision comes amidst ongoing legal battles regarding the agency's management, raising uncertainties about the future operations of these government-funded media organizations.
