News Brief: August 27, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) -

Israeli and American officials warned today that ending the war in Gaza remains elusive as Israel prepares for another major offensive amid famine conditions in Gaza City. Hospitals and aid groups report that thousands of tons of humanitarian supplies are stalled at border crossings, while diplomatic negotiations have made little headway.

In the U.S. capital, several Federal Emergency Management Agency employees who signed a public letter criticizing the administration were placed on leave, according to internal documents. The dissent letter expressed concern that politicization of FEMA’s disaster response undermines public trust and emergency preparedness.

Across the Atlantic, Denmark and Greenland formally apologized for coercively administering birth control to Indigenous Greenlandic women during the mid-20th century. Copenhagen’s statement acknowledged that the practice caused lifelong trauma and pledged compensation and memorial measures for the survivors.

SpaceX achieved a milestone test flight early Wednesday when its Starship rocket successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean after deploying eight dummy satellites. The reusable mega-rocket’s performance brings SpaceX closer to operational lunar and Mars missions, though engineers will continue scrutinizing data on reentry heating and splashdown integrity.

In Syria’s Damascus suburbs, Israeli drone strikes killed six soldiers today, the Syrian state media reported. The strikes targeted positions in Al-Mezzeh district, marking the latest cross-border escalation amid broadening regional tensions.

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