Volodymyr Zelensky accused Donald Trump of “betraying” Ukraine on Wednesday night after access to vital satellite data was withdrawn, while Elon Musk also said the US president ultimately controls the disputed system.

The Ukrainian president said it was a “pity that we are losing a strong partner” and warned that “people will die” after Ukraine’s access to the Starshield satellite defence network was restricted.

Zelensky spoke during a visit to the UK, where he met the King and Prime Minister Andy Burnham as he sought support following a bruising week.

In recent days, Trump has called for Zelensky to step down, signed what Kyiv described as a “treacherous” agreement with Vladimir Putin to buy Russian diesel, blamed the Ukrainian leader for rising energy prices and surprised him with a fabricated ceasefire that Russia has since obliterated.

Ukraine’s military said on Wednesday that its access to the SpaceX satellite network had been “throttled”, disrupting crucial Ukrainian strikes against Russian military targets.

The military said Elon Musk’s platform had placed a “speed limit” on Starshield, SpaceX’s defence-focused service. Trump denied that his administration had played any role in the decision.

Musk, however, directly contradicted that claim, saying Starshield was controlled by the US president rather than SpaceX’s commercial Starlink division.

He wrote: “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately Potus [the US President].”

Speaking to Piers Morgan Uncensored, Zelensky agreed that he felt “betrayed” by Trump’s actions in recent days. He also warned the president: “This is not the right side of history.”

His comments came as Vladimir Putin continued to bombard Ukraine, with 39 ballistic missiles hitting Kharkiv and Kyiv overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday.

Disturbing images showed a blood-covered woman crouching in the street after apartment buildings in the capital were set ablaze. At least three people were killed and dozens more injured.

Attacks on Kyiv’s energy infrastructure also plunged the city into darkness, cutting power to 600,000 residents.

The barrage was Moscow’s largest assault on Ukraine since Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” with the Kremlin the previous week.

Zelensky described the bombardment as “entirely deliberate and demonstrative in its scale”.

“Russia has never before shown such ostentatious disrespect toward the US,” he said, adding that 26 power facilities and four oil and gas terminals had been damaged.

Trump’s poll ratings are falling amid rising fuel costs, which are largely attributed to his disastrous war with Iran. Despite this, he has focused his criticism on Kyiv’s attacks against Russian oil refineries.

Last night, Zelensky said: ‘It is a pity that we are losing a strong partner. It is painful when President Trump chooses one side – not our side… I think his advisers are wrong. I don’t know who is pushing him… This is not the right side of history.’

Despite Zelensky pausing his own strikes on Russian oil refineries, Washington has not called out the Kremlin’s flagrant violation of the supposed truce. 

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Instead, Ukrainian drone pilots targeting logistics behind enemy lines suddenly found their Starshield feed cut off overnight on Tuesday.

After a complaint was made, SpaceX customer support informed the armed forces that Starshield was restricted to travelling at 100mph.

If they travel above that speed – which missile-strike drones must to evade Russian defences – the feed cuts and pilots get no live view. This has also limited Ukraine’s new interceptor drones which use Starlink to target Russian Shahed ‘suicide’ drones.

There were reports of the feeds cutting above 45mph, with some brigades claiming connections have been cut entirely. But Ukraine’s defence ministry said last night that lower restrictions had been removed, though the 100mph limit remained in place.

Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Zelensky on defence technologies, said yesterday: ‘Our forces were not given notice of this limit, and this has resulted in the disruption of a number of missions. 

‘This action is clearly not a coincidence and is related to the current political situation.’

Colonel Aleksandr Grom told the Daily Mail: ‘This is a critical restriction. Without any exaggeration, it means ten times more innocent people killed while sleeping in their homes.’

‘Trump is discrediting the entire democratic world order for the sake of his fleeting ambitions to be a “peacemaker”,’ he added.

Trump announced a deal with Putin last week to buy hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel. When Zelensky criticised this as a ‘weak decision by strong partners’, the US leader declared it is ‘time for Ukraine to get a new president’.

Meanwhile, Zelensky was hugged by Andy Burnham as he arrived at Downing Street yesterday in a show of support from Britain in the face of US hostility.

During his London visit, the Ukrainian president said: ‘Our people, we survived and continue to do this because we have strong partners, and I’m very proud that we have one of the strongest partners in our history and it’s your people, Andy.’

Mr Burnham said recent days had been ‘dark and difficult’ for Ukraine.

He told Mr Zelensky: ‘You have seen the solidarity and the support you have got from everybody here in Britain. We are behind you and that will not change.’

Earlier, during PMQs, the Prime Minister had promised that the Ukrainian leader would not be ‘going away from Britain today empty-handed’.

But he stopped short of labelling Mr Trump’s behaviour a ‘shameful betrayal’ when invited to by Lib Dem MP Ed Davey, insisting his role was to ‘try and repair bridges so the support comes back’.

It came after King Charles earlier welcomed the Ukrainian President in the Chinese Dining Room of Buckingham Palace.

They then moved through to the King’s private audience room for discussions which lasted around 25 minutes.

Mr Zelensky wrote on X afterwards: ‘I thank His Majesty King Charles III for the audience.

‘It is important for me to have the opportunity to personally thank him for his unwavering support for Ukraine.

‘We appreciate all the assistance provided by the United Kingdom.’

Florida secured a significant court victory Wednesday, clearing the way for the state to enforce restrictions that bar children under 14 from holding social media accounts and impose additional limits on teenage users.

Signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024, the measure was among the most restrictive social media laws targeting children in the United States.

The law raises First Amendment concerns, the appeals court said, but the panel determined that it “likely does so in a content-neutral manner.”

The legislation would probably withstand a full legal challenge because it does not restrict significantly more speech than necessary to serve the important goal of protecting minors from social media addiction, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously.

Under the law, children younger than 14 cannot create social media accounts in Florida. Users who are 14 or 15 must obtain parental permission to use the platforms.

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The Computer & Communications Industry Association and NetChoice, two industry trade groups, sued the state. They argued that Florida’s social media restrictions violated the free-speech rights of both online platforms and their users.

A federal judge ruled in 2025 that the law was likely unconstitutional and issued an injunction blocking its enforcement.

The injunction was paused while the appeals court reviewed the case. With the injunction now overturned, the lawsuit will return to federal court in Tallahassee.

The appeals court said the law applies to social media platforms “that have been determined to induce heavy use by children.” It covers only services that use algorithms along with at least one of several features considered addictive.

The Florida attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. NetChoice said it was disappointed by the ruling.

“We are currently evaluating all of our options as we continue the fight to ensure Floridians’ rights to free expression online are protected, and parents remain in the driver’s seat when it comes to making decisions for their families,” said Paul Taske, a lawyer representing NetChoice.

CHICAGO (WLS) — Students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy gathered Wednesday to pray for Pope Leo XIV following news of his lung cancer diagnosis.

In Rome, Cardinal Blase Cupich also discussed the pope’s condition with ABC7 Chicago.

Cupich said he was shocked and deeply saddened by the diagnosis. In Chicago, the pontiff’s hometown, Catholics voiced concern and joined a growing wave of prayers for his recovery.

Speaking from Rome, where he is attending Vatican meetings, Cupich said he has not spoken with Pope Leo since the diagnosis was announced. He has, however, been closely monitoring updates from the medical team.

“I have to say, I was shocked and really found it disconcerting,” Cupich said. He explained that he has known the pope for more than a decade and was distressed to learn that he was suffering.

Cupich said the diagnosis surprised some people inside the Vatican as well, describing the 71-year-old pontiff as energetic and consistently active.

“He’s a very serene and calm individual. He’ll pay attention to the science,” Cupich said, noting that the pope is a mathematician who approaches situations objectively.

The Vatican said Pope Leo’s recovery is progressing as expected after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung Tuesday. Officials reported that he is walking, eating his usual diet and receiving respiratory therapy while doctors conduct additional tests to determine whether the cancer has spread.

Cupich also pointed to the pope’s history of maintaining a demanding schedule.

“I wanted to know if he was getting enough sleep, but he seemed to be able to very vigorously take up the demanding work that’s before him,” the cardinal said.

In Chicago, many Catholics focused on prayer. For Gail Spreen, who said she lost her husband to cancer several years ago, the pope’s illness felt especially personal, but she remained hopeful about his recovery.

“He’s a strong man. I really, really believe, and with all the support and all the prayers around the world that are being said for him, he will make it,” Spreen said.

Other parishioners likewise offered words of encouragement and said they were keeping the pope in their prayers.

“I’m keeping him in my prayers and I’m thinking about him during this time,” said Suzie Scott, who was visiting Holy Name Cathedral.

Cupich said the pope’s experience with serious illness may also bring him closer to people dealing with their own health struggles.

“I think every family has someone who is ill, sick, suffering from cancer, some other kind of disease,” he said. Experiencing illness firsthand, Cupich added, gives the pope an opportunity to connect more deeply with those who are suffering.

The cardinal also underscored Pope Leo’s growing role in addressing major issues around the world.

Cupich said the pope has quickly emerged on the global stage, speaking out for peace, advocating for marginalized communities and emphasizing the values that can unite society. “We don’t want to lose that voice,” he said.

As prayers continue across Chicago, Cupich said the concern surrounding the pope carries particular weight in the city.

“He’s a hometown boy, and we’re concerned about him,” Cupich said.

There is also uncertainty surrounding the pope’s planned trip to South America next month. The president of Peru said the pope’s recovery may take several weeks, and potentially longer than expected. The pope is scheduled to visit Peru, where he spent years carrying out missionary and pastoral work.

Chicago Catholic school students making care package for Pope Leo XIV after lung cancer diagnosis

Pope Leo has a special place in the hearts of children at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Chicago.

Students there went viral, after performing a “mini mock conclave” last year.

This was personal for some of the students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy.

A group of them had the chance to travel to Vatican City and meet the pope last year.

They hope the cards and blanket make the pope smile and bring him comfort.

Students gathered early Wednesday to pray after learning about Pope Leo’s cancer diagnosis.

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“We found out that he does have cancer, so we are going to explain that really gently to the children in a way that feels safe and not scary to them,” teacher Allison Foerster said.

The children are part of Team 14, a student organization named in honor of Pope Leo XIV.

They went viral after participating in a mock conclave last year, and some of them then traveled to Vatican City to meet the pope.

They are now rallying around their hometown pontiff as he recovers.

“It feels nice to wish him well because he’s like a close friend and I was really sad when I heard when he was sick,” Ines Martins, a 6th grader who met the pope, said.

“I was a little nervous for Pope Leo because I’ve met him and he has a big role and I want him to stay healthy,” 8th grader Lucas Knudsen said.

Together the students made a care package to send to the pontiff. It includes a White Sox tie blanket, and get well cards.

Students shared their personalized messages to the pope.

“Dear Pope Leo, I hope you feel better. We love you,” student Parker Ashley said.

“My card is four children saying get well soon, and go White Sox,” student Catherine Esser said.

“Dear Pope Leo. We hope you feel better. We are all praying for you and the doctors that are helping you,” student Sawyer Nolot said.

A small gesture, that’s grounded on faith.

“It’s important for us to model to our students how we can live our faith in small ways, and sometimes just accompanying someone through prayer and a small action can be really impactful in hard times,” Foerster said.

School staff said they will be shipping off the care package to Gemelli Hospital, where the pope is receiving care. The small gesture is also meant to be an example of how Chicagoans care for each other.

Chicago woman, doctor highlight importance of lung cancer screening following Pope Leo diagnosis

Chicagoans are keeping Pope Leo in their thoughts and prayers following news that a surgery to remove a lung nodule revealed he has lung cancer.

Among them is Chicago resident Maida Mangianeli, who spoke about her own experience as she prepares to have another lung nodule removed after living with a more advanced stage of lung cancer for the past eight years.

“He has a lot ahead of him,” Mangianeli said. “Hopefully they’ve gotten all his cancer out. If he does have to go through chemo it’s okay because it helps you live longer.”

While there is optimism that Pope Leo’s diagnosis may be in its early stages, Mangianeli said recovery and treatment can be challenging.

“It’s very tiring,” she said. “My advice to the pope is make sure you take those timeouts when you need them. He needs to understand his own body and his own needs and deal with the fatigue because there will be a lot of fatigue.”

Medical experts say the diagnosis is also a reminder of the importance of early screening because lung cancer symptoms may not become noticeable until the disease has reached a more advanced stage.

In the past, lung cancer was often associated with smoking, but doctors say that is no longer always the case. According to Northwestern Medicine, 10% to 20% of lung cancer patients in the United States are not smokers. Other risk factors can include age, environmental pollution and, in some cases, heredity.

“Age is the number one risk factor for developing cancer,” said Dr. Mohammed Abazeed, chair and professor of radiation oncology at Northwestern Medicine. “As all of us get older our body has this incredible task it has to take every part of our DNA and replicate it billions of times and when it does that sometimes it makes mistakes.”

Abazeed said environmental factors can also play a role in cancer risk.

“Where you live, your ZIP code may be a determinant of your overall not just lung health but cancer propensity,” Abazeed said. “So I know Pope Leo lived on the South Side in an industrial zone in the 1950s and 70s. There was lots of air pollution in those areas with not so great EPA rules to control for air quality.”

Dr. Abazeed said recovery from this type of lung cancer surgery can range from weeks to months. The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo is up and walking around, which Dr. Abazeed said is a positive sign early in his recovery.

Pope Leo XIV’s recovery was progressing normally Wednesday after surgery to remove a small nodule from his lung, the Vatican said. Doctors performed scheduled blood tests and a chest X-ray, with results falling within the expected range for the procedure.

The update followed an earlier announcement from the Holy See Press Office that the pope had spent a quiet night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

The 71-year-old pontiff underwent thoracic surgery Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. The Holy See Press Office said testing confirmed that the nodule was lung adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer.

“This morning, the Holy Father underwent the blood tests and chest X-ray scheduled after surgery,” Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said in a statement. “The results confirm that his postoperative recovery is progressing normally: the values are within the expected range for the type of operation performed.”

The medical team said Pope Leo had started respiratory therapy and was walking around his hospital room. He has also returned to a normal diet, eating both breakfast and lunch, according to the statement. “His recovery is proceeding as expected,” the doctors said.

The Vatican said the diagnosis was confirmed through an examination of tissue taken during the operation, matching the results of tests carried out before surgery.

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Pope Leo spent about three hours in the operating theater, while the surgery itself took roughly 90 minutes.

Doctors reported that the operation was successful and proceeded without complications.

Speaking after Monday’s Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, Leo said doctors had discovered a small mass in his lung. He described it as having been detected at a very early stage and positioned in a favorable location.

“The doctors consider it appropriate to intervene and so, following their advice, I decided to have surgery to remove it,” the pope said. He added that the operation had been scheduled for the following days and thanked people for their spiritual support and prayers.

Only two Cornell University students found responsible for sexual assaults on campus between mid-2020 and mid-2024 were expelled—despite the cases occurring before seven fraternity members were accused of gang-raping a woman.

Cornell reviewed 51 formal sexual-assault complaints during that period. Title IX investigations determined that students were responsible in 16 cases, CNN reports.

Alongside the two expulsions, six students were reprimanded and seven received other sanctions, including written reprimands, disciplinary probation, directed study and no-contact orders.

Under Cornell’s guidelines, directed study requires students to read or watch “relevant materials,” then discuss what they learned and how it relates to their case, according to a guide from the university’s Office of Civil Rights.

The materials can include “an impact letter written by the complainant,” the guide states.

In some cases where sexual-assault complaints were withdrawn before a Title IX hearing, the accused students were still given sanctions such as writing an “Accountability Reflection Paper” or an “Apology Letter.”

Cornell has not released figures for the academic year that began in fall 2024, when a woman identified only as Jane Doe says she was raped by seven students at the Chi Phi fraternity, or for subsequent years.

It is also unknown how many of the reported assaults led to criminal investigations, which could have proceeded alongside the university’s internal reviews.

The university’s relatively lenient penalties have drawn criticism from members of the Cornell community over the years.

Jennifer Brownell, executive director of the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County—a nonprofit that Cornell refers students to for sexual-violence counseling—described the punishments as “infuriating.”

“Should they be expelled? I don’t know. But should there be harsher punishments? Yes,” she said.

Former student Kacey Lee told CNN that she felt “betrayed” after Cornell found a student responsible for assaulting her but punished him in 2023 with disciplinary probation, a no-contact order and directed study that included a “reflection paper.” He was not expelled.

The university’s Title IX panel, made up of faculty and staff, concluded that the student’s actions “caused significant harm but were not taken with malicious intent.” It also found that education on affirmative consent and related topics would likely prevent him from committing similar misconduct in the future.

After reading the decision, Lee said the punishment felt as though her alleged assailant had “just got an extra homework assignment.”

“In a way, they were telling me it just wasn’t bad enough,” she said. “Why is my pain worth an essay?”

Lee now says she regrets reporting the incident to Cornell’s Title IX Office.

“To know that I went through it all for this illusion of accountability felt even worse,” she said.

Others claimed the university’s Title IX Office ignored significant evidence that allowed attackers to evade responsibility – and sometimes attack again, with one former student saying a colleague assaulted her multiple times and once made her bleed before he allegedly struck again a year later.

Jane Doe, meanwhile, has claimed she was coerced into taking drugs and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity at an off-campus house on October 19, 2024.

The three-member disciplinary panel ultimately concluded that Jane Doe was not sexually assaulted by all of the men she had accused, according to records obtained by The New York Times. 

Instead, the panel found that only Matthew Ingalls, who had invited Jane Doe to the fraternity house, and Jonathan Newell, who engaged in a threesome with Jane Doe and Ingalls, were responsible for sexual assault.

The two men were then expelled from the school. 

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But five other men named in Doe’s civil lawsuit received lighter punishments, with Winston Lee and Gillio Lopes receiving suspension and disciplinary probation orders and a third former fraternity member, Diego Sarabia, barred from campus for three years. He had already graduated from the school by the time the disciplinary measures were handed down.

The other two men, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar, were ordered not to contact Jane Doe, to study sexual harassment, social media use and bystander intervention and to write ‘reflection papers.’

They were not part of the alleged attack but were accused of entering the room after Newell allegedly posted in a fraternity Snapchat group that there was ‘free p***y’ upstairs.

The Chi Phi fraternity was also shut down in the aftermath. 

All of the accused men have denied any wrongdoing, and were never charged with any crimes after prosecutors ruled there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.

But the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office has since reopened the case, and the school officials have hired Sally Yates, a former Obama-appointed justice official who was infamously fired by President Donald Trump, to investigate its response to gang rape allegations.

In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson for the school said the university takes sexual misconduct allegations ‘extremely seriously.’

He said the university ‘investigates reports through established processes, providing support and resources to those who come forward.’

The statement also noted that the university expanded in-person sexual violence prevention education this year to all first-year students, and in a separate interview with The New York Times, University President Michael Kotlikoff claimed his creation of a presidential task force in February 2025 to address sexual assault on campus was a sign his administration took the issue seriously. 

‘We don’t set up a presidential task force for minor issues,’ he said, adding that the school’s steps were meant to reassure parents worried about their children on campus.

‘I’ve had a number of conversations with parents. I think this is a difficult conversation, particularly with the public that’s gotten so much different information about what actually went on and aren’t aware of these processes, and the complexity of a Title IX process,’ Kotlikoff said. 

‘We take the issue seriously, that we respond, that we heard the concerns, and we’re responding in specific ways that address those concerns.’

Kotlikoff also told The New York Times that the heavy use of ketamine and alcohol by students discovered during the Title IX investigation is not unique to Cornell.

‘I think that this is a problem that relates to 20-year-olds, 21-year-olds leaving home for the first time, coming into an environment where there’s access to alcohol, where there is, unfortunately, in some cases, access to drugs,’ he said.  

Cornell has since banned all fraternity parties for the rest of the year.

Meanwhile, the Cornell faculty senate has said it plans to vote on a no-confidence resolution against the school’s administrators, including Kotlikoff, later this month.

But in his interview with the Times, Kotlikoff said: ‘The fact that Jane Doe experienced what she experienced at Cornell is something that I am personally sorry for. And I think this entire campus is sorry that occurred.’

‘I’ve heard enough from the community that there is a loss of trust. People are angry. I understand that anger.’

He also announced on Tuesday a suspension of all parties and social events at Interfraternity Council houses through the end of the 2026-27 academic year, along with a new ‘zero tolerance’ policy that would immediately suspend chapters for violations.

‘These measures will provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine whether and how it can safely continue,’ Kotlikoff wrote in a letter to the campus community.

Additionally, Cornell administrators announced that the school will be adding experienced sexual assault investigators to its police force. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Cornell University for comment. 

A 21-year-old woman reported being raped in a bathroom at a University of Chicago fraternity house while men outside allegedly shouted, “When’s my turn?” and “Let me in.”

The disturbing report is the latest allegation involving an elite university fraternity house, coming weeks after claims surrounding the so-called “Cornell 7” gang rape.

The alleged sexual assault occurred in the early hours of Sunday during a crowded party at the Alpha Epsilon Pi house in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, The New York Times reported.

The woman was not a University of Chicago student. She had attended the party with her friend Mia Lara, also 21, and another acquaintance after seeing the event promoted on the fraternity’s Instagram account.

Lara told the Times that the group had been dancing in the basement when her friend began kissing a man and then disappeared.

After looking through the house, Lara said she found several men gathered outside a locked basement bathroom. They were allegedly cheering and making comments such as, “When’s it my turn?” and “I want to go in there.”

Lara said she forced her way into the bathroom and found her friend sitting on the floor, slumped against the wall. The woman was undressed, with her underwear pulled down, according to the outlet.

The man, who also was not a University of Chicago student, allegedly had his hands on the woman’s wrists while she cried out, “Make it stop” and “Get me out of here,” Lara told the publication.

Lara said she followed the man outside the fraternity house and accused him of assaulting her friend. He allegedly replied, “She wanted to.”

The university said Tuesday that it had identified a “person of interest” in the reported assault. He has since been barred from campus.

Chicago police are investigating the sexual assault allegations and confirmed that the woman was taken to a hospital for treatment. No arrests had been reported as of Wednesday evening.

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A representative of Alpha Epsilon Pi’s national organization said the suspect was not a member of the fraternity’s University of Chicago chapter.

“We do not believe that any AEPi members were involved in this horrible act, nor were they complicit with it,” Jonathan Pierce said in an email to the Times.

Although University of Chicago fraternities are not formally affiliated with the school, the university says they remain “subject to university policies and disciplinary procedures.”

In a statement posted to Instagram, the fraternity said it was “deeply disturbed by the sexual assault that occurred on the night of Saturday, October 10th” and “condemn[ed] this violence unequivocally.”

“We became aware of the situation through one of our sober monitors being called over by the victim’s friend,” the Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter at the University of Chicago said.

“We immediately responded and multiple members of the fraternity, including our risk manager, arrived at the scene, providing assistance to the victim.

“A member stayed with the victim until the necessary authorities arrived, only leaving after the police had asked him to do so. The party was shut down immediately following our notice of the events.”

The chapter said it would “continue to support the investigation to the fullest extent and offer our support in any way possible.” It added that its “concern is first and foremost for the person harmed,” urging the public to respect her privacy and dignity.

The fraternity’s national headquarters said it was cooperating with university administrators and local law enforcement. It also directed the University of Chicago chapter to suspend all events while the investigation continues.

“Most importantly, all of AEPi hurts for the person who was the victim in this incident,” the national headquarters said in a statement. “No one should attend an event on any campus – fraternity-based or otherwise – and have to fear for their safety and wellbeing.”

The University of Chicago didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

MEXICO CITY — Mexican cartels are reportedly deploying commercial and modified drones to monitor U.S. security personnel, chart patrol patterns and assist smuggling routes along the southern border as authorities step up efforts to detect and disable the aircraft.

The U.S. military recorded 378 drone incursions along the border over the previous 30 days, Brig. Gen. Brian Filler of Joint Task Force-Southern Border recently told reporters. He said the number was rising and that the aircraft were generally commercially available drones equipped with cameras for surveillance connected to smuggling and human trafficking.

“On the border, the most common application is surveillance and reconnaissance as cartels look to establish a pattern of life for U.S. security personnel and support smuggling outcomes across the border,” Austin Doctor told News Media.

Doctor leads strategic initiatives at the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center and is a criminology and criminal justice instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that the threat is growing. Rapid advances in unmanned aircraft system technology, the spokesperson told News Media, create persistent risks, including counter-surveillance, illicit cargo transport and possible kinetic attacks.

“Cartels increasingly exploit UAS for surveillance, illicit activities, monitoring law enforcement, scouting crossing points and coordinating smuggling operations. CBP detected over 42,000 near-border UAS flights in (fiscal 2025) and over 37,000 in (fiscal 2026), underscoring the scale of this challenge.”

“Under congressional authority (6 USC 124n), the Department of Homeland Security has approved Counter-UAS authorities for CBP. U.S. Border Patrol C-UAS operations, with DHS Secretary approval, cover the entire Southwest border and areas extending 100 miles inland for detection, identification, monitoring, and tracking of UASs. USBP C-UAS operates in all Southwest border sectors to detect, track, and mitigate these threats.”

Doctor outlined how Mexican cartels are using drones in their operations.

“Most cartels and cartel associates still rely on commercial-off-the-shelf drones,” he said. More advanced aircraft are also appearing, including “larger agricultural drone devices.”

He added that cartels “continue to innovate their drone designs, often focused on increasing payload sizes, improving resistance to countermeasures and boosting operational capabilities.”

Doctor said surveillance and logistics are the primary uses of drones along the border, while weaponized deployments have been documented more often inside Mexico.

“Cartels and cartel affiliates use drones for a wide range of tactics and operations. … That includes kinetic attacks on rival factions, civilians in Mexico and local security forces.”

Research by NCITE identified the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, as “a key driver of drone innovation and adoption within the Mexico cartel ecosystem,” Doctor said. He noted, however, that drone use has expanded among other cartels and across multiple Mexican states.

A 2025 seizure in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, illustrates how border areas can help support cartel drone programs. Mexico’s security cabinet said soldiers and state police detained a man and recovered 18 drones, 151 explosive objects, two improvised explosive devices, a drone detector and three counter-drone devices. The official announcement did not name a cartel. Doctor said the safehouse “was reported as linked to the Los Metros faction of the Gulf Cartel.”

Weaponized drones have also been used in a Mexican border city. In October 2025, Baja California’s prosecutor said a drone dropped homemade explosive devices at an anti-kidnapping prosecutor’s office in Tijuana. The attack damaged four vehicles but caused no injuries. Authorities called it an act of criminal retaliation but did not publicly identify a cartel.

Doctor said Tijuana was one of the exceptions to the broader pattern, with most attacks occurring farther inside Mexico. Border areas remain “critical facilitation hubs,” he said, adding that the possibility of more kinetic attacks there “remains credible.”

Mexico says it is responding with interdictions, counter-drone equipment, military operations and new criminal penalties. During last month’s Águila Alta operation in the Tijuana-San Diego area, the defense ministry said Mexican forces neutralized five drones, detained one person and seized a gun, magazines and ammunition.

One aircraft was initially detected in the U.S. and later neutralized in Mexico following information-sharing with Customs and Border Protection. Officials said the operation deterred criminal activity and strengthened coordination but released no before-and-after data showing whether drone traffic subsequently declined.

Mexico made certain drone-related conduct a federal crime in 2024, including dropping explosives, adapting aircraft to carry weapons or drugs and surveilling public officials.

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Earlier this month, Mexico deployed 500 soldiers and National Guard members, two helicopters, drones and mobile and fixed counter-drone systems in five Tamaulipas municipalities. The Navy separately reported 159 personnel, 11 vehicles and two drones under Operation Sable.

In response to News Media’s questions, a Department of War spokesperson said Joint Task Force-Southern Border, CBP and the Department of Homeland Security use layered monitoring and detection systems to “observe, evaluate and, if needed, engage threats.” 

What remains unknown is the number of cartel-operated drones, which groups control individual flights and whether Mexico’s countermeasures are producing results.

Doctor said increased counter-drone resources are important but cautioned that “it is almost certain that cartels will continue to innovate and adapt.”