Maduro's last chance to negotiate a peaceful exit from power

Saudi Arabia is releasing U.S. citizen Saad Almadi, who was jailed for five months due to social media posts critical of the royal family. His release follows a bilateral meeting between President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Washington, D.C. Almadi, 75, immigrated to the U.S. in 1976 and was arrested during a family visit in 2021.

President Trump emphasized the significance of the U.S.-Saudi Arabia partnership, describing it as one of the most consequential globally. He highlighted a $1 trillion investment in American projects, positioning himself as a notably Saudi-friendly president in recent history.

President Trump has proposed a plan to enhance semiconductor chip manufacturing in the United States, which includes the employment of foreign workers. These workers would be utilized primarily to train American workers for high-tech jobs in the industry.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday. This meeting comes as Zelenskyy prepares to meet with U.S. military leaders in Kyiv on Thursday, amid reports of U.S. efforts to facilitate a peace deal with Russia.

President Trump's agreement to sell F-35 advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia could significantly shift the military balance in the Middle East. This deal raises concerns among Israeli and U.S. officials regarding the potential erosion of Israel's Qualitative Military Edge (QME) in the region.

The U.S. trade deficit decreased by nearly 24% in August, attributed to President Donald Trump's extensive global tariffs that have led to a reduction in imports. This significant drop reflects the impact of trade policies on the economy.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the U.S., a 'foreign terrorist organization.' This proclamation is part of a broader trend of designating groups perceived as threats to national security, reflecting ongoing tensions surrounding civil rights and religious freedoms in the U.S.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly rejected former President Donald Trump's proposal for U.S. military strikes against drug cartels operating in Mexico. Sheinbaum stated, "It's not going to happen," emphasizing Mexico's sovereignty and the country's commitment to addressing drug-related violence without foreign intervention.