Tuesday, 13 May 2025

President Trump begins a four-day Middle East diplomatic tour in Saudi Arabia, where he announced a $142 billion arms deal with the kingdom. Trump met with Saudi officials and is scheduled to meet the Syrian leader during the trip, which also includes stops in Qatar and the UAE.

A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled that President Trump's invocation of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) was lawful, according to court proceedings. Additionally, Harvard University expanded its legal complaint against the Trump administration after the administration threatened another $450 million in funding cuts.

The U.S. inflation rate slowed to 2.3% in April according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, amid ongoing Trump tariff policies. Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced a reduction of tariffs on small Chinese parcels from 120% to 54%, marking a de-escalation in the trade war.

Trump's family bitcoin mining venture announced plans to go public as the family's cryptocurrency interests expand. A contest for the $TRUMP meme coin offered exclusive dinners with the president to top buyers, raising concerns about foreign influence and potential conflicts of interest.

Questions emerged regarding whether President Trump is legally allowed to accept a $400 million luxury plane gift from Qatar to serve as the new Air Force One. The proposal sparked backlash from both Trump's supporters and Senate Democrats, with concerns raised about corruption and constitutional compliance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will travel to Turkey on Thursday to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and wait for Russian President Vladimir Putin to arrive for face-to-face peace talks. Zelenskyy stated that if Putin does not appear, it will indicate Putin does not want to end the war.

The Trump administration added $450 million in additional funding cuts to Harvard University, bringing total federal penalties against the school to $2.65 billion. The cuts follow a previous $2.2 billion freeze amid disputes over the administration's policies.

The Trump administration granted 'refugee' status to 59 white South Africans, claiming they faced discrimination, though this claim has been widely criticized. President Trump also confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a video containing false claims about the situation.

A federal grand jury indicted Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan after she was arrested by the FBI for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid U.S. authorities. The case reflects ongoing tension between state courts and federal immigration enforcement.

Newark airport operated with only three air traffic controllers on duty on Monday evening, far below the agreed minimum of 14 controllers between the union and regulators. The staffing shortage raised safety concerns at one of the nation's major airports.