Evening Brief: Israel Strikes Hamas Leadership Site in Qatar, Nepal Prime Minister Resigns as Deadly Protests Escalate

· Guy D. McCardle

Black smoke engulfs Nepal’s parliament after protesters stormed, looted, and set the building on fire. (Image grab via X)

What you need to know this Tuesday evening, September 9, 2025.

 

Federal Prosecutors Seek Maximum Penalty in Charlotte Train Stabbing Case

The Justice Department charged Decarlos Brown Jr. on Tuesday with the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte commuter train, a federal offense that carries the possibility of the death penalty.

Brown, who has 14 prior criminal cases and a schizophrenia diagnosis, was already facing a state murder charge. Footage shows him attacking Zarutska without provocation as passengers fled. Her killing has fueled debate over violent crime, mental illness, and transit safety in Charlotte.

Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to pursue the maximum penalty, blaming “soft-on-crime policies.” North Carolina allows the death penalty for first-degree murder, though no execution has occurred since 2006 due to ongoing legal challenges.

Zarutska had fled Ukraine seeking safety and was described by family as determined to build a new life in the US.

 

57 Undocumented Workers Detained in Raid on New York Snack Bar Plant

Federal agents detained 57 people during a raid last week at the Nutrition Bar Confectioners plant in Cato, New York, officials said Tuesday.

Five were charged with illegally re-entering the US, while 52 face deportation proceedings.

Acting US Attorney John Sarcone warned that more large-scale workplace enforcement actions are planned, saying employers who hire unauthorized workers will face consequences.

Advocacy groups said most detainees were from Guatemala. The raid occurred the same day immigration authorities detained 475 workers at a Hyundai plant in Georgia.

Factory owners in New York claimed employees had proper documentation. State officials criticized the raid as heavy-handed, while Sarcone said social service agencies ensured no children were left unattended.

 

VA Cemeteries to Host Volunteer Events Nationwide on Patriot Day

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that 60 national cemeteries will hold volunteer events Thursday in honor of Patriot Day, inviting the public to help clean and restore veterans’ burial grounds.

The day commemorates those killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — including 47 service members and dependents buried or memorialized in VA cemeteries — as well as first responders, service members, and veterans who have served since.

Volunteers will clean headstones and participate in beautification projects, with supplies provided. The initiative marks the seventh year of partnership between the VA and nonprofit Carry the Load, which encourages service and remembrance on 9/11.

Patriot Day was formally established as a National Day of Service and Remembrance in 2009.

 

Israel Strikes Hamas Leadership Site in Qatar

Israel carried out an airstrike on Tuesday on Hamas’ political headquarters in Doha, Qatar, as the group’s leaders met to discuss a US ceasefire proposal for Gaza.

Hamas said its top leaders survived, though five members were killed, including the son of senior figure Khalil al-Hayya.

Qatar, which hosts US troops and has served as a key mediator, condemned the strike as a violation of sovereignty, while Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt also issued strong denunciations.

The US confirmed Israel gave advance notice but called the attack an “unfortunate incident” that undermines peace efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed full responsibility, saying the strike followed deadly attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza.

The move threatens to derail ceasefire negotiations and complicates efforts to free the remaining hostages, drawing concern from families in Israel. The attack deepens Israel’s international isolation, with growing calls from allies to end the war and address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

 

Iran, UN Nuclear Watchdog Agree to Resume Cooperation on Inspections After Months of Tensions

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an agreement Tuesday in Cairo to restart cooperation, including steps to relaunch inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities.

The deal followed talks involving the foreign ministers of Egypt and Iran and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

It comes as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom move to reimpose sanctions on Iran for alleged non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal. Tehran had suspended all cooperation with the agency in July after a 12-day war with Israel and the US that targeted nuclear sites.

Since then, inspectors have only accessed the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, leaving Iran’s near bomb-grade uranium stockpile unverified.

The IAEA has called the situation a “serious concern,” while Egypt has played a mediating role in bringing the two sides back to the table.

 

Macron Names Defense Minister Lecornu as New Prime Minister

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister late Tuesday, tasking him with securing a budget deal to end political deadlock.

Lecornu, 39, a close Macron ally and architect of France’s 413 billion euros ($435 billion) military buildup through 2030, becomes the country’s fourth prime minister in a year.

His predecessor, François Bayrou, and his government were ousted Monday in a confidence vote after pushing for deep spending cuts.

Macron directed Lecornu to first consult with all parliamentary parties on the budget before forming a government.

The appointment comes on the eve of nationwide protests by the “Block Everything” movement, with 80,000 police deployed.

Lecornu’s background includes mediating during the yellow vest crisis and unrest in Guadeloupe. His new role comes amid France’s budget challenges and international pressures from the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

 

Russian Glide Bomb Kills 24 Pensioners in Donetsk Village, Ukraine Says

A Russian glide bomb struck the village of Yarova in Ukraine’s Donetsk region Tuesday, killing at least 24 people (23 of them pensioners) and wounding 19 as they lined up to collect monthly payments, officials said.

The blast set homes ablaze, destroyed a mobile post office, and left bodies scattered in the village center. Survivors described scenes of fire and chaos, with many victims suffering blast injuries and burns.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike as “brutal” and urged stronger international sanctions on Russia.

The attack came as Moscow escalates aerial assaults, including Sunday’s record strike on Kyiv, while US and European officials discuss new measures to pressure Russia.

Yarova, less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the front line, had been occupied by Russian forces in 2022 before being retaken by Ukraine. Many residents remain in the area, unable to relocate due to age, disability, or lack of resources.

 

Nepal PM Resigns as Deadly Protests Over Social Media Ban Escalate

Protests in Nepal over a now-lifted social media ban escalated violently Tuesday, with demonstrators torching government buildings and politicians’ homes, attacking leaders, and forcing Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli to resign.

At least 19 people were killed Monday when police opened fire on crowds protesting the ban, which targeted platforms including Facebook, X, and YouTube. Despite the ban’s reversal, tens of thousands continued demonstrating, fueled by anger over corruption, elite privilege, and youth unemployment.

Protesters attacked senior figures, including former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, and set fire to residences of top officials. President Ram Chandra Poudel accepted Oli’s resignation and named him caretaker leader while urging dialogue. The army has so far remained in barracks but warned it could act to restore order.

The unrest, driven largely by young Nepalis, has broadened into demands for justice and an end to entrenched corruption.

 

Sources: News Agencies