Lawmakers raise alarms about possible war crimes after second boat strike report

Congress has initiated inquiries following a Washington Post report alleging that the U.S. military targeted survivors of a strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking, raising the possibility of war crimes. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed serious concerns regarding the implications of these actions.

Peace negotiations between Ukraine and the U.S. have progressed in Florida following the resignation of Andriy Yermak, with Rustem Umerov now leading Ukraine's diplomatic team. This shift indicates a potential rethinking of Ukraine's previously uncompromising stance in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

On November 26, 2025, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, allegedly carried out a shooting targeting two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House, resulting in critical injuries. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Lakanwal was radicalized in the U.S. after being granted asylum during the Trump administration, raising concerns about domestic extremism.

Northwestern University has agreed to pay $75 million to the Trump administration to settle investigations into allegations of antisemitism on its campus, thereby regaining access to federal funding that had been previously frozen. This agreement is part of a broader civil rights deal aimed at addressing the university's handling of these serious allegations.

The United States has deployed 11 warships and approximately 15,000 troops to the Caribbean amid escalating tensions with Venezuela. The Secretary of the Navy emphasized the importance of utilizing the nation's best assets to protect the homeland. This military buildup is seen as a significant response to ongoing concerns regarding Venezuela's activities, particularly accusations against its government related to drug trafficking.

On November 26, 2025, an Afghan refugee, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly shot and critically injured two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House in Washington, D.C. Homeland Security officials have attributed the vetting failures of the shooter to the Biden administration, suggesting he may have been radicalized after arriving in the U.S. in 2021.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a Ukrainian delegation held a meeting in Florida, described as 'very productive' by both sides, focusing on discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. No specific details were disclosed, and the meeting followed a series of diplomatic efforts to establish a peace framework.

Lawmakers from both parties have expressed support for congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes against vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, following a report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the killing of all crew members during a September 2 attack.