Morning Brief: Trump-Netanyahu Meeting, US Revokes Colombian President’s Visa, China and North Korea Pledge Closer Ties

· Guy D. McCardle

Aftermath of a recent massive Russian attack on Ukraine.(@ZelenskyyUa/X)

It’s Monday, September 29, 2025, and the week opens with high-stakes talks in Washington as Trump presses Netanyahu on a Gaza ceasefire plan. In Michigan, tragedy struck when an ex-Marine killed four in a church attack. Trump defied Oregon leaders by deploying National Guard troops, while the US revoked Colombian President Petro’s visa after anti-Trump protests. Abroad, Russia unleashed massive strikes on Kyiv as the US weighs Tomahawks for Ukraine, Moldova’s pro-EU party secured a decisive win, and China and North Korea vowed tighter ties. Meanwhile, Lufthansa announced 4,000 job cuts, Iran carried out another execution, and the Taliban freed a detained American.

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Trump-Netanyahu Meeting to Test US Backing as Gaza War Pressures Mount

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet President Donald Trump in Washington as both face pressure over the ongoing war in Gaza.

The White House is signaling impatience, and Trump is expected to push for a permanent ceasefire through a 21-point proposal calling for a truce, release of hostages, Israeli withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and an international security force in Gaza.

Netanyahu has vowed to continue fighting until Hamas is destroyed, but acknowledged talks with Trump’s team.

The meeting comes as Israel loses global support, with over 66,000 Palestinians reported killed and most of Gaza’s population displaced. Western and Arab nations have urged Israel to end the offensive, recognize Palestinian statehood, and accused it of blocking humanitarian aid.

Analysts say Netanyahu risks choosing between Trump’s pressure and his fragile governing coalition, making the talks a pivotal moment in US-Israeli relations.

 

Ex-Marine Kills Four in Michigan Church Attack Before Dying in Police Shootout

A gunman drove a pickup truck into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, opened fire during Sunday services, and set the building on fire, killing at least four people and wounding eight before being shot dead by police.

Authorities identified the attacker as 40-year-old ex-Marine Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton.

Hundreds were inside the church at the time, and officials said more victims may be found in the burned ruins.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the investigation and classified the incident as targeted violence. The motive remains unclear.

Local and state leaders condemned the attack, while President Donald Trump praised the FBI’s response and called for an end to gun violence.

The assault was one of two mass shootings in the US within 24 hours, deepening concerns about the growing pattern of attacks on houses of worship.

 

Trump Deploys 200 Oregon National Guard Troops Despite State Opposition

A Defense Department memo confirmed that 200 Oregon National Guard members are being placed under federal control to protect immigration enforcement officers and government facilities, despite objections from state leaders.

Governor Tina Kotek rejected the move in a call with President Donald Trump, while Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a federal lawsuit, arguing the president is overstepping his authority.

Trump said the deployment, requested by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, was to defend Portland and Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities from “domestic terrorists.”

The order follows past federal troop deployments to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., though on a smaller scale.

The White House has not commented, and Pentagon officials have not confirmed the memo’s authenticity.

 

US Revokes Colombian President Petro’s Visa After Anti-Trump Protest

The US State Department revoked Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey President Donald Trump during a Gaza war protest in New York.

Petro, who attended the United Nations General Assembly, returned to Colombia as scheduled and said he learned of the revocation upon arrival. He argued that international law grants him immunity for UN visits and dismissed the move, noting he also holds European citizenship.

The decision adds to growing friction between Washington and Bogotá.

Petro has clashed with Trump over US military deportation flights, anti-narcotics cooperation, and Colombia’s stance on Israel. In his UN speech, Petro called for a criminal investigation into Trump over recent US strikes in the Caribbean.

 

Trump’s Second Term Sparks Comparisons to Authoritarian Leaders Abroad

US President Donald Trump has moved rapidly to consolidate power in his second term, drawing comparisons to leaders such as Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán.

Since returning to the office, Trump has threatened television networks, pressed the Justice Department to prosecute political rivals, and targeted institutions he views as hostile. He pardoned more than 1,500 people convicted in the January 6 Capitol attack, threatened judges, and deployed troops to Democratic-led cities.

Analysts note that while US institutions remain stronger than in countries that slid into authoritarianism, Trump’s speed and openness in challenging democratic norms set him apart.

Experts warn that America, unlike nations with histories of dictatorship, is less prepared to recognize and resist authoritarian tendencies within its own system.

 

US Navy Plans $3.5 Billion Contract for 2,800 Boats and Service Craft

The US Navy is preparing a 10-year multiple award contract worth up to $3.5 billion to acquire 2,800 boats and service craft between fiscal years 2026 and 2036.

The plan, led by the Foreign Military Sales Boats and Craft Program Office (PMS 300), shifts procurement from firm fixed-price contracts to multiple award contracts to streamline acquisitions and reduce risk in volatile cost environments.

The contract will cover up to 15 vessel types, including workboats, barges, force protection boats, floating barracks, Naval Special Warfare support craft, and unmanned target drones. Nearly half of the planned purchases are high-speed maneuvering surface target drones, with about 110 expected each year.

The deal also includes 330 support craft for Navy SEALs and up to 220 vessels for foreign military sales.

Naval Sea Systems Command aims to award the contract in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026.

 

Russia Launches Massive Strikes on Kyiv as US Weighs Tomahawk Missiles for Ukraine

Russia carried out a large-scale overnight assault on Ukraine, firing nearly 600 drones and 48 missiles, with Kyiv suffering the heaviest damage.

At least four people, including a 12-year-old girl, were killed and more than 70 wounded nationwide, according to Ukrainian officials. Civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, a medical facility, and a kindergarten were among the targets.

The attacks, which triggered Polish fighter jet responses near the border, came days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a $90 billion US weapons package.

US Vice President JD Vance confirmed the administration is reviewing Ukraine’s request for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which would give Kyiv the ability to strike targets up to 1,000 miles away.

The bombardment underscored rising tensions as Russia continues to face global condemnation over strikes that have killed tens of thousands of civilians in the war.

 

Moldova’s Pro-EU Party Wins Majority in Parliament, Defeats Pro-Russian Rivals

Moldova’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) secured a majority in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, winning 50.1 percent of the vote and about 55 of 101 seats.

The pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc finished second with 24.2 percent, followed by the Alternativa Bloc, Our Party, and the right-wing Democracy at Home party.

The result strengthens President Maia Sandu’s push for European Union integration and is expected to keep Prime Minister Dorin Recean in office.

Authorities said Russia tried to influence the vote through cyberattacks, disinformation, and alleged vote-buying schemes, but PAS’s victory gives it a stable mandate to pursue reforms and advance accession talks with the European Union.

Voter turnout stood at 52.1 percent, including 280,000 ballots from Moldovans abroad.

 

Lufthansa to Cut 4,000 Jobs by 2030 Amid AI, Digitalization Push

Lufthansa Group announced plans to eliminate 4,000 jobs by 2030, mainly in administrative roles in Germany, as it expands the use of artificial intelligence (AI), digitalization, and integration across its member airlines.

The company said the cuts will result from consolidating overlapping functions among Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways.

Despite the reductions, Lufthansa reported strong travel demand and forecast higher profits in the years ahead. The group is preparing its largest fleet modernization, adding more than 230 aircraft by 2030, including 100 long-haul planes.

Lufthansa, which had about 102,000 employees in 2024, generated 37.6 billion euros ($44 billion) in revenue last year.

 

Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spy Amid Surge in Death Penalty Cases

Iran announced it executed Bahman Choobiasl on charges of spying for Israel, accusing him of working on sensitive telecommunications projects and meeting with Mossad officials.

The execution comes as Tehran carries out its largest wave of executions in decades, following renewed UN sanctions over its nuclear program and a war with Israel that killed over 1,100 people in June. Iranian authorities say nine people have been hanged for espionage since the conflict began.

Rights groups report more than 1,000 executions in 2025, the highest pace since the 1988 mass killings after the Iran-Iraq war.

Activists claim some of the recent cases, including that of Babak Shahbazi earlier this month, involved torture and forced confessions.

 

Taliban Free US Citizen in Qatar-Mediated Deal, More Americans Still Detained

The Taliban released US citizen Amir Amiri from an Afghan prison, with Qatar brokering the deal weeks after Taliban officials said they reached a prisoner exchange agreement with Washington.

Amiri, detained since December 2024, is returning to the US, according to officials.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the release, citing President Donald Trump’s executive order to protect Americans from wrongful detention abroad, but noted that other US nationals remain held in Afghanistan.

Families of detainees, including that of Mahmood Habibi, detained since 2022, urged that no Americans be left behind. The terms of the exchange remain unclear, though Afghanistan faces deep economic and humanitarian crises.

The release marks the fifth American freed from Taliban custody this year with Qatari mediation.

 

China and North Korea Pledge Closer Ties, Joint Opposition to US Influence

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing to pledge deeper bilateral cooperation and resistance to “hegemonism” and “unilateralism,” widely seen as references to US policies.

The talks followed last month’s summit between Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping, their first in six years, and a joint appearance with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Beijing military parade.

Both sides emphasized strengthening strategic communication and cooperation in regional and international affairs.

Analysts say Kim is seeking to reinforce ties with China, North Korea’s main trading partner, even as he expands military cooperation with Russia, while Beijing aims to maintain influence over Pyongyang.

The meeting comes ahead of North Korea’s planned 80th Workers’ Party anniversary celebrations, where it is expected to showcase new military capabilities.

 

Sources: News Agencies