Trump Signs New Executive Orders Targeting Birthright Citizenship and Birth Tourism
President Trump signed two executive orders seeking to further restrict birthright citizenship and deny visas to foreign nationals entering the US to give birth, weeks after the Supreme Court rejected a broader earlier attempt.President Trump signed two new executive orders aimed at limiting birthright citizenship and curbing what the administration calls 'birth tourism.' The orders deny visas to foreign nationals believed to be entering the country primarily to give birth, and expand the existing definition of people whose US-born children would not be eligible for automatic citizenship. The actions come roughly five weeks after the Supreme Court rejected a broader earlier executive order that would have denied automatic citizenship to children born to undocumented immigrants and temporary foreign residents. That prior order was found to conflict with the Fourteenth Amendment's birthright citizenship guarantee. The new orders take a narrower approach. The ACLU and other legal advocates said the new orders remain constitutionally vulnerable and are likely to face court challenges. Trump said he believed the new actions would withstand legal scrutiny. The administration did not provide detailed legal analysis of how the orders differ from the one the Court rejected. Birthright citizenship — the constitutional guarantee that anyone born on US soil is automatically a citizen — has been a persistent focus of Trump's immigration agenda across both his terms in office.
Senate Panel Votes to Hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in Contempt of Congress
A Republican-led Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions at a recent hearing. Republicans argue his presidential pardon removes his Fifth Amendment protection.A Republican-led Senate committee voted to recommend holding Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he declined to answer questions at a hearing last week, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Republican senators argued that a presidential pardon Fauci previously received eliminates his Fifth Amendment protection, because the amendment protects against criminal prosecution — and a pardon removes that threat. Legal scholars describe the situation as legally novel, noting significant tension between the scope of a presidential pardon and the reach of Fifth Amendment protections in a congressional setting. The committee also separately obtained a copy of Fauci's government-issued cellphone, adding to the investigative record. The contempt recommendation now moves to the full Senate. If the full Senate votes to hold Fauci in contempt, the matter could be referred to the Justice Department for potential prosecution, though the legal path forward is disputed. Fauci served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades and was a central figure in the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Communications Commission lifted a longstanding rule that barred any single television station owner from reaching more than 39 percent of US households, opening the door to significant consolidation in broadcast media.The Federal Communications Commission has eliminated a rule that prevented any single owner from controlling broadcast television stations that collectively reach more than 39 percent of US households. The rule, in place for decades, was designed to limit concentration of ownership in the broadcast television industry and preserve local media diversity. Its removal clears a regulatory path for significant consolidation among television station groups. Critics of the move argue it could reduce the number of independent local news operations and concentrate media ownership in fewer hands. Supporters contend the rule was outdated given the shift in how Americans consume news and entertainment across cable, streaming, and digital platforms. The change takes effect under the current FCC, which has moved to roll back several media ownership restrictions.
Trump Administration Agrees to Pay German Energy Firm $1.22 Billion to Surrender Offshore Wind Leases
The Trump administration reached a $1.22 billion agreement with German energy company RWE to relinquish its US offshore wind leases, the fifth such deal struck with energy companies to abandon wind projects.The Trump administration has agreed to pay German energy company RWE $1.22 billion in exchange for the company surrendering its offshore wind leases in US waters. The deal is the fifth of its kind the administration has completed, offering financial settlements to energy companies willing to abandon offshore wind development projects. RWE has indicated it will redirect the funds toward fossil fuel investments. The administration has pursued an aggressive policy of unwinding offshore wind development, which was significantly expanded under the prior administration. Separately, a federal judge this week ordered the Pentagon to lift a freeze on military reviews for wind energy projects, which had stalled dozens of onshore wind developments since April. The competing legal and policy actions reflect ongoing tension between the executive branch's energy priorities and judicial oversight.
Federal Judge Orders Pentagon to Resume Wind Energy Project Reviews
A federal judge ordered the Defense Department to lift its freeze on military reviews for wind energy projects, which had halted dozens of projects nationwide since April.A federal judge has ordered the Pentagon to resume conducting military reviews for wind energy development projects, ending a freeze that the Defense Department imposed in April. The halt had stalled dozens of wind projects across the country that require military sign-off to ensure they do not interfere with radar or flight operations. The court order requires those reviews to restart, potentially unblocking projects that have been in limbo for months. The ruling comes amid broader administration efforts to curtail wind energy development, including separate financial settlements with offshore wind developers to abandon their leases.
Trump Administration Proposes Significant Deregulation of Head Start Program
The Trump administration proposed new guidelines that would substantially reduce federal oversight of Head Start, the 60-year-old early education program serving roughly 860,000 low-income children. Advocates say the changes could undermine the program's core mission.The Trump administration has proposed new regulations that would significantly reduce federal oversight of Head Start, the early childhood education and development program that has operated since 1965. Head Start currently serves approximately 700,000 children aged three to five, and another 160,000 infants and toddlers through its Early Head Start component, primarily from low-income families. The proposed changes would slim the regulatory framework governing how the program operates, with the administration citing cost savings as a goal. Child development and anti-poverty advocates have expressed concern that reduced oversight could weaken program quality, reduce accountability, and ultimately undermine Head Start's educational mission. The program was launched as part of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty and has historically enjoyed bipartisan support. The proposed rule changes would now go through a formal public comment process before taking effect.
Iran and Oman Near Agreement on Strait of Hormuz Arrangement
Iran said a deal with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz is close to being finalized, with reports suggesting Iran would hold control over ships entering the Gulf through the strategic waterway. Iranian sources gave differing signals on how advanced the negotiations are.Iran announced that a deal with Oman concerning access to the Strait of Hormuz is close to being finalized. Reports suggest the proposed arrangement would give Iran a degree of control over vessels transiting the strait into the Persian Gulf. However, Iranian sources gave conflicting signals about the state of negotiations, with some indicating the deal is not as imminent as official statements suggested. Separately, Iran's parliament is reviewing legislation that would ban ships linked to the United States, Israel, and other countries Tehran designates as hostile from using the strait at all, and charge tolls to other vessels. The Trump administration has rejected that plan. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints, through which a significant share of global oil and gas exports flows. Any restrictions on transit would have major implications for global energy markets and US military operations in the region.
Russia Reported to Have Deployed North Korean Ballistic Missile Unit to Ukraine
A Ukrainian intelligence official says Russia has deployed a North Korean military unit equipped with up to 120 ballistic missiles to the conflict in Ukraine, deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.A Ukrainian intelligence official has reported that Russia has deployed a North Korean unit carrying up to 120 ballistic missiles to participate in the war in Ukraine. The deployment would represent a significant escalation in military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which has previously provided artillery shells and other munitions to Russia. The introduction of a dedicated North Korean missile unit would mark a further integration of North Korean military personnel and hardware into the conflict. The United States and its allies have expressed concern about the deepening Moscow-Pyongyang relationship throughout the war. Ukraine has been pressing Western allies for additional air defense systems, including Patriot missile interceptors, to counter intensifying Russian strikes.
FDA Approves Moderna's mRNA-Based Flu Vaccine for Older Adults
The FDA has approved Moderna's mRNA-based influenza vaccine, the first of its kind, targeted at older adults and expected to be available for the upcoming flu season.The Food and Drug Administration has approved Moderna's mRNA-based influenza vaccine, marking the first time the technology used in COVID-19 vaccines has been authorized for use against the flu. The vaccine is specifically targeted at older adults, a population that tends to experience more severe influenza outcomes. Moderna says the vaccine will be available in time for the upcoming flu season. The FDA had initially declined to review the application but reversed course following public pressure. The approval represents a significant expansion of mRNA vaccine technology beyond COVID-19. mRNA vaccines work by instructing cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response, without using a live or inactivated virus. Supporters of the technology say it can be updated more quickly than traditional flu vaccines as circulating strains change each year.
Discarded SpaceX Rocket Debris Crashes into the Moon, Creating New Crater
A four-tonne piece of a discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket traveling at approximately 8,690 kilometers per hour struck the moon, creating a new crater. A telescope in Chile and South Korea's lunar orbiter both captured evidence of the impact.A four-tonne discarded piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket unintentionally crashed into the moon after drifting in space since last year. The object, roughly the height of a five-story building, struck the lunar surface at approximately 8,690 kilometers per hour, or about 5,400 miles per hour. The impact posed no danger to Earth. The European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile captured spectral evidence of the collision, detecting sodium and lithium gas released from the impact — described as 'spectral lines' — along with a large plume of debris. South Korea's lunar orbiter captured before-and-after images of the moon's surface showing the newly formed crater. Uncontrolled rocket bodies occasionally end up on impact trajectories with the moon or other bodies after completing their missions, and this event has renewed discussion about guidelines for disposing of spent space hardware.
Scientists Use Artificial Intelligence to Design and Build Novel Viruses
Scientists have for the first time created functional viruses whose genetic sequences were designed entirely by artificial intelligence, raising both medical hopes and biosecurity concerns.Scientists have successfully created functional viruses with genetic sequences designed from scratch by artificial intelligence, marking what researchers describe as a significant milestone in both medicine and biosecurity. The 16 viruses created are bacteriophages — viruses that infect bacteria rather than humans or animals — and are already used in medicine and food safety applications around the world. Researchers say the ability to design novel bacteriophages using AI could accelerate the development of treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, an urgent global health challenge. However, the achievement also raises concerns about the potential for the same technology to be misused to engineer harmful pathogens. Scientists and biosecurity experts are calling for careful governance frameworks to ensure the technology is developed safely. This is considered the first confirmed instance of AI-designed viruses being synthesized and shown to function.
Artemis II Crew Returns After Traveling Farther from Earth Than Any Humans in History
The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis II mission returned to Earth after traveling farther from the planet than any humans in recorded history, surpassing the distance achieved by Apollo missions.The four astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II mission completed their journey around the moon and returned to Earth, having traveled farther from the planet than any humans in history. The mission, which carried crew members including Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, surpassed the distance record previously held by Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s. Unlike the Apollo lunar landing missions, Artemis II was a crewed lunar flyby without a moon landing. During the return, Hansen asked Mission Control to name a lunar crater after the late wife of one of his crewmates. The Artemis program is NASA's effort to return humans to the lunar surface, with subsequent missions planned to include an actual landing.
Meta's Smartglasses Draw Privacy Concerns as Venues Begin Banning the Devices
Meta's Ray-Ban smartglasses, which have sold more than 7 million pairs, are facing bans at restaurants, pubs, and theaters in the UK over concerns about nonconsensual recording, including of children.Meta's Ray-Ban smartglasses, which reportedly sold more than 7 million pairs in 2025, are generating increasing controversy over privacy, with venues in the UK — including restaurants, pubs, and theaters — instituting bans on the devices. Critics have raised concerns about the glasses' ability to record video and audio without the knowledge of those nearby, including children. The devices have a small indicator light when recording, but opponents argue it is easily overlooked. Supporters say the glasses have genuine accessibility benefits, particularly for people with visual impairments, and that the technology is comparable to smartphone cameras that are widely accepted in public spaces. In the UK, the debate has intensified enough that some establishments have added the smartglasses to existing phone and camera policies. Meta has not announced changes to the devices in response to the concerns. Regulators in several countries are examining whether existing privacy laws adequately cover wearable recording devices.
Google Reorganizes AI Leadership as Demis Hassabis Moves to New Role
Google announced a restructuring of its artificial intelligence leadership, with Nobel Prize-winning scientist Demis Hassabis shifting to a new position shortly after four senior AI researchers announced their departures.Google announced significant changes to its artificial intelligence leadership structure. Demis Hassabis, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who led the company's DeepMind AI lab, is moving into a new role within the company. The announcement came minutes after four senior AI researchers publicly announced they were leaving Google. The timing and nature of the departures raised questions about the company's direction in an intensely competitive AI landscape. Google has been competing with OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and a range of international rivals for AI talent and dominance. The company has not provided detailed information about the specific roles or structure that will replace the previous leadership arrangement.
Meta Ordered to Pay $567 Million in Largest Child Safety Ruling Against a Social Media Company
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million over harm the company caused to children through its platforms, in what is described as the largest child safety judgment against a social media company.A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, to pay $567 million over harm caused to children through its platforms. The ruling is described as the largest child safety judgment ever issued against a social media company. The case is separate from prior settlements Meta has reached with other states over similar allegations. Meta has faced mounting legal action across multiple jurisdictions from state attorneys general and private plaintiffs over claims that its platforms expose minors to harmful content, facilitate exploitation, and are designed in ways that foster addictive use among young users. Meta has not commented on whether it will appeal.
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At Least 100 Deaths Reported After Tens of Thousands of Migrants Cross into Spanish Territory of Ceuta
The leader of Ceuta, a Spanish territory bordering Morocco, reported that approximately 100 people died and thousands of migrants remain in the territory following a large border crossing event involving roughly 78,000 people.The president of Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the northern tip of Africa bordering Morocco, told the European Parliament that at least 100 people died in connection with a large-scale border crossing event in which approximately 78,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the territory. Thousands of those migrants remain in Ceuta. The crossing represents one of the largest single migration events recorded at the Spanish-Moroccan border. Ceuta, along with the neighboring Spanish enclave of Melilla, has long been a focal point for migration from sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere seeking entry into the European Union. The event is prompting calls for a coordinated European response to both the immediate humanitarian situation and the longer-term question of border management.