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Hundreds of federal agents descended on a sprawling site where Hyundai manufactures electric vehicles in Georgia and detained 475 people, most of them South Korean nationals. This is the latest in a long line of workplace raids conducted as part of the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda. But the one on Thursday is especially distinct because of its large size and the fact that it targeted a manufacturing site state officials have long called Georgia's largest economic development project. The detainment of South Korean nationals also sets it apart, as they are rarely caught up in immigration enforcement compared to other nationalities. Here are some things to know about the raid and the people impacted: The workers detained South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Saturday that more than 300 South Koreans were among the 475 people detained. Some of them worked for the battery plant operated by HL-GA Battery Co., a joint venture by Hyundai and LG Energy Solution that is slated to open next year, while others were employed by contractors and subcontractors at the construction site, according to Steven Schrank, the lead Georgia agent of Homeland Security Investigations. He said that some of the detained workers had illegally crossed the U.S. border, while others had entered the country legally but had expired visas or had entered on a visa waiver that prohibited them from working. But an immigration attorney representing two of the detained workers said his clients arrived from South Korea under a visa waiver program that enables them to travel for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Attorney Charles Kuck said one of his clients has been in the U.S. for a couple of weeks, while the other has been in the country for about 45 days, adding that they had been planning to return home soon. The detainees also included a lawful permanent resident who was kept in custody for having a prior record involving firearm and drug offenses, since committing a crime of “moral turpitude” can put their status in jeopardy, Lindsay Williams, a public affairs officer for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Saturday. Williams denied reports that U.S. citizens had been detained at the site since “once citizens have identified themselves, we have no authority.” Hyundai Motor Company said in a statement Friday that none of its employees had been detained as far as it knew and that it is reviewing its practices to make sure suppliers and subcontractors follow U.S. employment laws. LG told The Associated Press that it couldn’t immediately confirm how many of its employees or Hyundai workers had been detained. The South Korean government expressed “concern and regret” over the operation targeting its citizens and is sending diplomats to the site. “The business activities of our investors and the rights of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed in the process of U.S. law enforcement,” South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lee Jaewoong said in a televised statement from Seoul. Most of the people detained have been taken to an immigration detention center in Folkston, Georgia, near the Florida state line. None of them have been charged with any crimes yet, Schrank said, but the investigation is ongoing. Raid is the result of a monthslong investigation The raid was the result of a monthslong investigation into allegations of illegal hiring at the site, Schrank said. In a search warrant and related affidavits, agents sought everything from employment records for current and former workers and timecards to video and photos of workers. Court records filed this week indicated that prosecutors do not know who hired what it called “hundreds of illegal aliens.” The identity of the “actual company or contractor hiring the illegal aliens is currently unknown,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote in a Thursday court filing. The sprawling manufacturing site The raid targeted a manufacturing site widely considered one of Georgia’s largest and most high profile. Hyundai Motor Group started manufacturing EVs at the $7.6 billion plant a year ago. Today, the site employs about 1,200 people in a largely rural area about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Savannah. Agents specifically honed in on an adjacent plant that is still under construction at which Hyundai has partnered with LG Energy Solution to produce batteries that power EVs. The Hyundai site is in Bryan County, which saw its population increase by more than a quarter in the early 2020s and stood at almost 47,000 residents in 2023, the most recent year data is available. The county’s Asian population went from 1.5% in 2018 to 2.2% in 2023, and the growth was primarily among people of Indian descent, according to Census Bureau figures. Raid was the ‘largest single site enforcement operation’ From farms and construction sites to restaurants and auto repair shops, there have been a wide array of workplace raids undertaken in this administration. But most have been smaller, including a raid the same day as the Georgia one in which federal officers took away dozens of workers from a snack-bar manufacturer in Cato, New York. Other recent high-profile raids have included one in July targeting a legal marijuana farm northwest of Los Angeles. More than 360 people were arrested in one of the largest raids since Trump took office in January. Another one took place at an Omaha. Nebraska, meat production plant and involved dozens of workers being taken away. Schrank described the one in Georgia as the “largest single site enforcement operation” in the agency’s two-decade history. The majority of the people detained are Koreans. During the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, 2024, only 46 Koreans were deported during out of more than 270,000 removals for all nationalities, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Community members and advocates have mixed reactions Kemp and other Georgia Republican officials, who had courted Hyundai and celebrated the EV plant’s opening, issued statements Friday saying all employers in the state were expected to follow the law. The nonprofit legal advocacy organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta described the raid in a joint statement as “unacceptable.” “Our communities know the workers targeted at Hyundai are everyday people who are trying to feed their families, build stronger communities, and work toward a better future,” the statement said. Sammie Rentz opened the Viet Huong Supermarket less than 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from the Hyundai site six months ago and said he worries business may not bounce back after falling off sharply since the raid. “I’m concerned. Koreans are very proud people, and I bet they’re not appreciating what just happened. I’m worried about them cutting and running, or starting an exit strategy," he said. Ellabell resident Tanya Cox, who lives less than a mile from the Hyundai site, said she had no ill feelings toward Korean nationals or other immigrant workers at the site. But few neighbors were employed there, and she felt like more construction jobs at the battery plant should have gone to local residents. “I don’t see how it’s brought a lot of jobs to our community or nearby communities,” Cox said.

Israeli forces struck a high-rise building in Gaza City on Friday following an evacuation warning, intensifying a military campaign aimed at taking control of the devastated city, home to roughly one million Palestinians. Separate airstrikes in the city reportedly killed at least 27 people, according to local health authorities. The Israeli military claims that Hamas uses high-rise buildings for surveillance and ambush planning. Officials said they would continue with “precise, targeted strikes” in the coming days against militant infrastructure. In preparation for an expanded offensive, Israel has called up tens of thousands of reservists and issued repeated evacuation orders. The renewed military push has sparked growing opposition inside Israel and criticism from the international community. Friday’s airstrike reportedly hit the Mushtaha Tower in Rimal, once an upscale neighborhood. Local resident Ahmed al-Boari said the area had been sheltering displaced residents. Satellite imagery showed numerous makeshift tents surrounding the building. The number of casualties from the strike was not immediately known. Israel said the tower was targeted because it was being used by Hamas operatives. The building’s roof had already sustained damage from previous strikes. Growing Fears as Gaza City Declared Combat ZoneIsrael has officially designated Gaza City a combat zone, with certain areas labeled “red zones” where residents have been ordered to evacuate. Many civilians, including those who had previously returned after fleeing, are now living in fear. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported 27 fatalities from overnight strikes, including six members of a single family. The Israeli military says it targets only militants and holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties, accusing the group of operating in densely populated areas. Inside Israel, the offensive has triggered protests by families of hostages still believed to be held in Gaza—48 in total, 20 of whom are presumed alive. Demonstrators accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the war to appease far-right political allies rather than seeking a ceasefire to secure the hostages’ release. “The government is waging a war of attrition—not only against the hostages but also against the entire Israeli public,” said Lishay Lavi-Miran, whose husband Omri is among the captives. Hamas Releases Video of HostagesOn Friday, Hamas released a video appearing to show two hostages in Gaza City: Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel. Gilboa-Dalal, who was last seen over six months ago in another hostage video, is seen pleading for an end to the war—believed to be speaking under duress. The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Most of the hostages have since been released under ceasefire deals or other negotiations. In response, Israel launched a broad offensive that has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not specify how many were combatants, but says women and children account for around half the death toll. Israel insists the war will continue until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are freed. It also plans to maintain indefinite security control over the Gaza Strip, home to more than two million Palestinians. Hamas has stated it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Settler Violence in West Bank EscalatesElsewhere, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers reportedly attacked the Palestinian village of Khallet A-Daba overnight. Witnesses said settlers used clubs and pepper spray against residents. Activist videos showed injured individuals, including a baby with head wounds. Nine Palestinians were hospitalized, said local activist Basel Adra, who helped produce the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which highlights settler violence. The Israeli military demolished much of the village last month and has not yet commented on the latest incident. Criticism Over U.S. Sanctions on Palestinian NGOsHuman rights groups in Israel and Palestine issued a joint statement condemning new U.S. sanctions targeting Palestinian civil society organizations. They argue the measures will severely impact groups that have long worked to defend Palestinian rights. The Biden administration on Thursday sanctioned three Palestinian NGOs—Al Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights—accusing them of aiding International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes. Last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza. The U.S. and Israel reject the ICC’s jurisdiction and have sanctioned several of its officials. Ammar Dwaik, head of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, warned the move "criminalizes accountability" and sends a dangerous message globally. “It tells governments they can silence human rights defenders without consequence,” he said.

US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that it “looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China,” sarcastically wishing the three countries a “prosperous future.” His comment came after Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin. The leaders discussed cooperation on energy, security, and other issues, highlighting growing ties that diverge from Washington’s positions on Ukraine and global trade. Trump noted that US-India relations have cooled in recent years, citing tariffs on Indian goods and criticism of India’s energy trade with Russia. He argued that India benefits disproportionately from trade with the US while relying heavily on Russian oil and military products.   Source: NDTV

More than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in the nearly two-year war in the Gaza Strip, local health officials said Thursday, as Hamas and Israel reiterated their incompatible demands for ending the fighting sparked by the militant group’s 2023 attack. Israeli strikes killed 28 people, mostly women and children, overnight and into Thursday, according to hospitals, as Israel pressed ahead with its offensive in famine-stricken Gaza City. Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, the military spokesman, said Israeli forces control 40% of the city and that the operation would expand "in the coming days.” In the occupied West Bank, Israelis established a new settlement in a Palestinian city, according to an anti-settlement monitoring group. The latest strikes came as Israeli troops were operating in parts of Gaza City with plans to take over all of it. The most populous Palestinian city is home to around a million people many of whom have already been displaced multiple times. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City received 25 bodies, including nine children and six women, after Israeli strikes hit tents housing displaced people, according to hospital records. Among those killed was a 10-day-old baby. Another three people were killed in southern Gaza, according to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Maha Afana said the strikes woke her up in the middle of the night as she slept in a tent in Gaza City with her children. When she checked on them she found the bodies of her son and daughter, drenched with blood. “I started screaming,” she said. Associated Press footage of the aftermath showed charred tents and debris. The sound of further Israeli bombardment echoed in the background. “What did those children do to the state of Israel? They didn’t carry a knife or artillery. They were just sleeping,” said Hayam Basous, who lost a relative in the strike. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas, saying militants are entrenched in densely-populated areas. Death toll rises Gaza’s Health Ministry said that 64,231 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war. The latest update includes around 400 who were presumed missing but whose deaths it says have been confirmed. The ministry doesn't say how many of those killed in the war were militants or civilians. It says women and children make up around half the dead. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate of wartime deaths by U.N. agencies and many independent experts. Israel has disputed them without providing its own toll. Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people in their attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Most have since been released in ceasefires or other agreements. No visible progress in ceasefire efforts Hamas released a statement late Wednesday saying that it was open to returning all 48 hostages it still holds — around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive — in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all of Gaza, the opening of border crossings and a start to the daunting challenge of rebuilding Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office dismissed the offer as “spin” and said that the war would continue until all the hostages are returned, Hamas is disarmed and Israel has full security control of the territory, with civilian administration delegated to others. Talks on a temporary ceasefire that would have seen some of the hostages returned broke down last month when U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff walked away, blaming Hamas. The militant group later accepted a proposal that Hamas and Arab mediators said was almost identical to an earlier one accepted by Israel, but there’s been no public indication that talks have resumed. Israel and the U.S. have recently hinted at pursuing a comprehensive deal in which all the remaining hostages would be released at once. New settlement in West Bank city An anti-settlement watchdog group said Israelis have established a new settlement in the heart of the Palestinian city of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. Peace Now says the government-backed settlers took over a building on a main thoroughfare used by Palestinians to access the Old City, where hundreds of hardline settlers already live in a decades-old settlement guarded by Israeli troops adjacent to Palestinian homes. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli government. Hebron’s Old City is home to a major holy site revered by Jews and Muslims, where the biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their wives, are believed to be buried. It has often been the scene of Israeli-Palestinian violence. Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories for a future state and – along with most of the international community – view settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace. “The goal of establishing a settlement in the heart of Hebron’s casbah is to seize new areas of the city and displace Palestinians from them, similar to what was done in the city center around the existing settlements,” Peace Now said. “The settlement in Hebron is the ugliest face of Israeli control in the territories. Nowhere else in the West Bank is apartheid so blatant,” it said.

In the court papers, the Trump administration has argued that the tariffs are "a crucial aspect of our push for peace" in Ukraine. The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court ruling that deemed most of the former president’s tariffs illegal. In court filings, the administration defended the tariffs as “a crucial aspect” of efforts to promote peace in Ukraine. The tariffs, including those recently doubled to 50 percent on India, were partly aimed at penalizing countries importing Russian energy amid the Ukraine war and partly under Trump’s “America First” trade policy. The appeals court last week said Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), though it allowed the tariffs to remain in place until mid-October for a possible Supreme Court review. Trump criticized the ruling on Truth Social, saying the court “incorrectly said that our tariffs should be removed” and vowed to fight with the Supreme Court’s help. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that halting the tariffs could cause “dangerous diplomatic embarrassment.”   Source: NDTV

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met European leaders in Paris on Thursday to discuss long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and continued American support after the war. He is also scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the talks, a Ukrainian official said. The meeting, part of a “coalition of the willing,” focused on plans for military aid and security arrangements in the event of a ceasefire to prevent future Russian aggression. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that any European security force in Ukraine would require U.S. backing. Macron said preparatory work on the guarantees had been completed and should now receive political approval. Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said guarantees must be strong and effective “in the air, at sea, on land, and in cyberspace.” Earlier this month, the U.S. indicated readiness to support guarantees similar to NATO’s collective defense, though the practical details remain unclear. Meanwhile, Ukraine reported that Russia launched 112 strike and decoy drones overnight Thursday, of which 84 were intercepted or jammed. Some coalition leaders attended the Paris talks in person, while others joined virtually, and a call with U.S. President Donald Trump was planned afterward.

Pope Leo XIV met Thursday with Israeli President Isaac Herzog as Israel pushes ahead with a planned Gaza offensive, with the Vatican pressing for an immediate ceasefire and the release of Hamas-held hostages. Herzog was welcomed at the Apostolic Palace by Swiss Guards before talks that, according to his office, focused on freeing hostages, combating global antisemitism, and protecting Christian communities in the Middle East. While Herzog’s office said the visit came at the pope’s invitation, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni clarified that the audience was granted at Herzog’s request. The largely ceremonial president has sought unity since taking office. Hamas abducted 251 hostages during its Oct. 7, 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people. Israel believes around 20 of the 50 hostages still in Gaza are alive. The Vatican has condemned both Hamas’s kidnappings and Israel’s heavy strikes in Gaza. Pope Francis earlier called Israel’s actions “immoral” and disproportionate, raising questions of genocide — a charge Israel rejects. Leo XIV, the first American pope, has continued that stance, urging an end to “collective punishment,” forced displacement, and calling for a permanent ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian aid.

The number of fatalities in the crash of one of Lisbon’s iconic streetcars rose to 17 on Thursday after two more injured victims passed away, an emergency services official confirmed. According to Margarida Castro Martins, head of Lisbon’s Civil Protection Agency, all of the deceased were adults. Their identities and nationalities have not yet been released, pending notification of their families. In total, 23 people were injured in Wednesday’s accident. Among the injured were both Portuguese citizens and foreign nationals, including two Germans, two Spaniards, and one person each from France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Morocco, South Korea, and Cape Verde, Martins said. The diversity of victims highlights the popularity of the historic streetcar, a major attraction for tourists visiting the Portuguese capital during the summer. Thursday was declared a national day of mourning in Portugal, marking the deadliest incident in Lisbon in recent memory. Though authorities have not disclosed the names of the victims, the transport workers’ union, SITRA, confirmed that André Marques, the streetcar's brakeman, was among those who died. The 19th-century streetcar, part of the city’s heritage and a frequent feature on tourist itineraries, was packed at the time of the crash. It runs a short but scenic route up one of Lisbon’s steep hills. Forensic experts worked through the night to complete autopsies, supported by specialists from other cities. The injured were taken to various hospitals in Lisbon. As of Thursday, the mangled streetcar remained on the crash site in downtown Lisbon, surrounded by police tape. Investigators from Portugal’s judicial police documented the scene, photographing the rails and the wreckage on the quiet street. Officials have not yet speculated on the cause, though possibilities include brake failure or a snapped cable. The vehicle, officially known as the Elevador da Glória, lay on its side on the narrow, curving road where it derailed and slammed into a nearby building. Its top and sides were severely crushed by the impact. Eyewitness Teresa d’Avó told Portuguese broadcaster SIC that the streetcar appeared to be out of control, barreling down the hill without braking. She described the crash as violent and said it scattered bystanders, some of whom fled into Avenida da Liberdade, the city’s main boulevard. The crash occurred around 6 p.m. local time, at the beginning of the evening rush hour. Emergency crews managed to extract all victims from the wreckage within just over two hours. Though commonly called a streetcar, the Elevador da Glória is technically a funicular, operating on steel cables and capable of carrying over 40 passengers. It serves both tourists and locals on a short route between Restauradores Square and the Bairro Alto nightlife district. In response to the accident, Lisbon’s City Council suspended three other funicular streetcar services in the city for immediate safety inspections. The Elevador da Glória is designated as a national monument. Last year, Lisbon welcomed about 8.5 million tourists, with the streetcar being one of its most visited attractions. Long lines often form for the brief but scenic ride. Carris, the company operating the funicular, stated that regular maintenance had been completed prior to the crash. In a statement posted to social media, the company extended condolences to the victims and their families and pledged a full investigation into the cause. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas both expressed their sorrow, with Moedas calling it “a tragedy unlike any we’ve seen before.” The Portuguese government formally declared Thursday a national day of mourning, stating that the crash caused “an irreparable loss of life” and had shaken the nation. In solidarity, the European Parliament and European Commission flew EU flags at half-staff in Brussels. Several European leaders also shared messages of condolence.

Authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab province have evacuated nearly 300,000 people over the past two days after receiving a fresh flood alert from India, officials reported on Wednesday. This brings the total number of people displaced since last month to approximately 1.3 million. Floodwaters have inundated several villages in Punjab’s Muzaffargarh district, after previously impacting areas in Narowal and Sialkot, both situated close to the Indian border. In an effort to shield major cities, officials are redirecting rising river waters onto agricultural land. The emergency response is being described as one of the most extensive rescue and relief operations in Punjab’s history — a region that spans parts of both eastern Pakistan and northwestern India. Thousands of emergency workers, including military personnel, are using boats to evacuate residents and livestock from submerged areas, said Arfan Ali Kathia, Director-General of Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). According to Kathia, India issued a second flood warning within 24 hours early Wednesday via diplomatic channels, prompted by heavy rainfall and dam discharges on their side of the border. The Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers are all experiencing high flood levels due to intense rains and upstream water releases. Rescue teams are also deploying drones to locate stranded individuals, particularly those stuck on rooftops. Kathia noted that over 3.3 million people across 33,000 villages in Punjab have been affected so far. Damage assessments are ongoing, and the provincial government has pledged compensation for those who lost homes or crops. Meanwhile, at least 29 people have died due to landslides and flooding in India’s Punjab state, which has a population of over 30 million. Temporary shelters are being established, and relief supplies such as food and essentials are being distributed, although many affected residents say government assistance is inadequate. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, around 40,000 people are staying in relief camps, but the whereabouts of many others remain unknown. In Sher Shah village, 54-year-old farmer Noor Mohammad expressed frustration over the lack of support, saying he had sent his family to stay with relatives. Another resident, Malik Ramzan, chose to remain near his flooded home rather than move to a camp, citing poor conditions and delayed aid deliveries. On Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited Muzaffargarh, meeting with displaced families at relief sites. Her visit coincided with India’s latest flood alert. Last week, floods struck Kasur, Bahawalpur, and Narowal districts, even submerging the revered shrine of Guru Nanak near the Indian border. Officials say the shrine has since been cleaned and reopened for visitors. Pakistan began large-scale evacuations last month following India’s release of excess water from dams into low-lying border areas. This latest disaster is considered the worst flooding since 2022, when climate-driven floods killed nearly 1,700 people in Pakistan.        

An Arizona man died after falling near the Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska’s capital, authorities said Wednesday. The hiker, identified as 69-year-old Thomas Casey, was found dead around 5 p.m. Monday, according to Alaska State Troopers. He had last been seen on Saturday morning, but no one knew where he planned to hike or when he would return. Troopers said they were alerted about an overdue hiker on Sunday morning. Search teams used cellphone data to track Casey and located his body off a trail near the glacier. His remains were sent to the state medical examiner’s office. Juneau police said Casey had been staying in the city for the summer. Just weeks earlier, in July, a Kentucky woman visiting Juneau on a cruise was also found dead in the mountains after failing to return from a hike.