Trump urged to restart Afghan evacuations, North Korea responds to being called ‘rogue’ state by U.S., Ukraine losing ground to Russia and all three Black Hawk crew members killed in collision identified.
1. Veterans groups are urging President Donald Trump to make exceptions for Afghan allies who are now barred from entering the United States under executive orders, including the families of active-duty service members left behind following the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. At least 200 service members’ families are among thousands more in limbo following the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, according to #AfghanEvac, a nonprofit, veteran-led coalition that has worked to evacuate Afghans who assisted U.S. forces during the 20-year war. Another executive order barring the distribution of foreign aid has halted services for Afghans seeking special immigrant visas, which provide a path for legal entry.
2. In its first direct criticism of the Trump administration, North Korea lashed out at U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for calling it a “rogue” state and warned Monday that such “coarse and nonsensical remarks” will never contribute to U.S. interests. The statement is the latest in a series of North Korean signals that it's not interested in resuming diplomacy with the United States anytime soon, though Trump has said he'll reach out to its leader Kim Jong Un. Many experts say that Kim, preoccupied with his deployment of troops to Russia, is likely concentrating on developments in the Russia-Ukraine war for now. But they say Kim would eventually seriously consider Trump's overture if he assessed he cannot maintain the current solid partnership with Russia after the war ends.
3. A dire shortage of infantry troops and supply routes coming under Russian drone attacks are conspiring against Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk, where decisive battles in the nearly three-year war are playing out — and time is running short. Ukrainian troops are losing ground around the crucial supply hub, which lies at the confluence of multiple highways leading to key cities in the eastern Donetsk region as well as an important railway station. Moscow is set on capturing as much territory as possible as the Trump administration is pushing for negotiations to end the war and recently froze foreign aid to Ukraine, a move that has shocked Ukrainian officials already apprehensive about the intentions of the new U.S. president, their most important ally. Military aid has not stopped, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
4. An Army captain from North Carolina was the third crew member killed when a Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair with a commercial jet over the Potomac River in Washington, the service announced Saturday. “Our deepest condolences go out to her family, and all the families who are mourning the loss of their loved ones impacted by this devastating accident. We continue to work with the families of our fallen soldiers and support the ongoing investigations,” the Army said in a statement. Capt. Rebecca Lobach of Durham, N.C., served as an aviation officer in the Army from July 2019 to January 2025. She did not have any deployments. Her awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves were the other two crew members killed in the Wednesday collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 coming from Wichita, Kan., and the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from Bravo Company of the 12th Aviation Battalion at Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
5. The U.S. military has conducted coordinated airstrikes against Islamic State operatives in Somalia, the first attacks in the African nation during President Donald Trump’s second term. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that the strikes by U.S. Africa Command were directed by Trump and coordinated with Somalia’s government. An initial assessment by the Pentagon indicated that “multiple” operatives were killed. The Pentagon said is assesses no civilians were harmed in the strikes. Trump, in a post on social media, said a senior IS planner and recruits were targeted in the operation.
- Security