Thursday morning news: May 29, 2025

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Federal court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs » A federal court has blocked President Trump from using emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs, dealing a major blow to one of his key trade policies.

The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that the 1977 International Emergency Powers Act does not give the president authority to regulate imports through tariffs.

The ruling does note that under a separate law … the president can still impose limited tariffs for up to 150 days on nations with which the US has a large trade deficit.

The White House is appealing the case, which may ultimately be decided at the Supreme Court.

Iran talks » President Trump says U.S. negotiators are making progress toward a nuclear deal with Iran.

TRUMP:  We are doing very well with Iran, and I think we're gonna see some, some, uh, something very sensible because there were only two outcomes. You know what the two outcomes is a, a smart outcome and there's a violent outcome, and, and I don't think anybody wants to see the second.

Speaking in the Oval Office, he said he believes a deal could come together "over the next couple of weeks."

He also acknowledged that he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against taking any actions that could threaten the ongoing talks.

The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog agency, the IAEA, Raphael Grossi, says he sees cause for cautious optimism:

GROSSI:  The fact that they continue to meet and they continue after, uh, one round to say that there, there is an interest in, in, in going on, in having yet another meeting.

Iran is believed to be one fairly short technical step away from enriching uranium at weapons grade levels.

Russia-Ukraine latest » Russia is proposing a new round of peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey on Monday. The Kremlin says it plans to present an outline of its terms for a possible ceasefire deal.

Ukraine says it’s open to more negotiations, but it wants Moscow to deliver that outline before a new round of talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

On Wednesday, Zelenskyy met with German Chancellor Freidrich Merz, who told reporters:

MERZ (translated): We will continue our military support and even increase it, so that Ukraine can continue to defend itself against this Russian aggression now and in the future.

Russia’s proposal for a new round of talks comes on the heels of some of the biggest aerial attacks against Ukraine since the start of the war.

Gaza latest » Meantime, in the Middle East, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff says US officials are on the verge of sending out a new term sheet to outline a possible ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas terror group.

WITKOFF: The president is going to review it, and I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution of that conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has killed senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in a strike two weeks ago.

And in Gaza, aid trucks are finally reaching residents after a weeks-long blockade by Israel, which voiced concerns about the Hamas terror group stealing supplies.

Missouri abortion ruling » Pro-life protections have been temporarily restored in Missouri after a state Supreme Court ruling. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: The high court instructed a lower-court judge to lift two injunctions that had allowed abortions to continue. Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang blocked two pro-life laws, saying she believed pro-abortion groups would eventually win their lawsuit.

Now, the dispute is headed to trial in January.

In its ruling, the state Supreme Court said the judge used the wrong legal standard when granting those injunctions and must reconsider the decisions.

Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey praised the move as a victory for women and children.

These pro-life measures, which took effect in 2022 allow abortion only in limited situations.

Meanwhile, Missouri voters approved a November ballot measure banning any restrictions on abortion before the baby can survive on its own outside the womb.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

Duffy on Newark fixes » In New Jersey, flight cancellations and delays continue at Newark Liberty International Airport. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says a new runway is also set to open soon at the airport, which should help. But beyond that, it’s been a perfect storm of multiple factors, including air traffic control understaffing, and outdated tech and data lines, but:

DUFFY:  Verizon has laid a brand new fiber line between Philadelphia and New York. If it all goes well, we should be able to turn over to this new fiber line, uh, at the start of July.

Duffy has also warned that if air traffic control systems aren’t updated, many more airports could experience the same problems seen in Newark.

DUFFY:  I think this truly is a moment to look at, uh, what kind of system we're using, what kind of equipment we use, what kind of telecom we use.

The Trump administration is pushing a multi-year, $13 billion-dollar overhaul of the system.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: addressing U.S. drug prices. Plus, when calling out “scandalizers” becomes a scandal itself.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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