Conflict

Hamas announced Thursday it will proceed with scheduled hostage releases as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement with Israel, walking back its earlier threat to suspend the exchanges indefinitely. The Palestinian organization issued an official statement confirming it would "continue its position of implementing the agreement according to what was signed, including the exchange of prisoners according to the specified schedule." This development follows discussions with mediating nations Qatar and Egypt, which Hamas described as having a "positive spirit." The announcement represents a shift from Hamas' previous position, where it had accused Israel of violating ceasefire terms by allegedly firing on civilians, impeding humanitarian aid delivery, and restricting movement to northern Gaza. Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim indicated to NBC News that "positive signs of an agreement" existed regarding ceasefire maintenance. As of press time, the Israeli government had not […]

President Donald Trump announced plans for a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in diplomatic relations. This development comes after Trump held a phone call with Putin before speaking with Ukrainian leadership. During his Oval Office remarks, Trump expressed openness to several positions aligned with Russian interests regarding Ukraine. He indicated he was "OK" with Ukraine not receiving NATO membership and suggested it was "unlikely" that Ukraine would regain invaded territories. "I think President Putin wants peace and President Zelenskyy wants peace, and I want peace," Trump stated, adding, "I just want to see people stop getting killed." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded diplomatically, noting he had "very substantive negotiations" with Trump. Zelenskyy believed that American "strength is sufficient to pressure Russia and Putin into peace, together with us, together with our […]

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared at NATO headquarters that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is "unrealistic," signaling a potential shift in U.S. policy regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Speaking at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, Hegseth emphasized the need for a "sovereign and prosperous Ukraine" while suggesting that pursuing pre-2014 borders would "only prolong the war and cause more suffering." He advocated for combining "allied strength with a realistic assessment of the battlefield" to achieve peace. Hegseth outlined several key points regarding security arrangements. He proposed non-American peacekeepers for Ukraine rather than NATO membership, explicitly stating that "there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine." These peacekeepers would operate outside NATO's Article 5 mutual defense framework. The Defense Secretary's European visit comes as part of a broader Trump administration initiative. Their approach differs from former President Biden's […]

In a recent diplomatic development, American schoolteacher Marc Fogel returned to the United States after being released from Russian detention. The 63-year-old former diplomat landed at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., before proceeding to the White House. President Donald Trump welcomed Fogel at the White House, and described the exchange as "very fair, very reasonable." The Kremlin confirmed that a Russian citizen would be released by the US as part of the agreement, with their return expected in the coming days. The Russian citizen's identity remains undisclosed until their arrival home. Trump indicated that another detainee would be released on Wednesday, though no specific details were provided. He characterized the release as a "show of good faith" from Russia, suggesting it could contribute to resolving the conflict in Ukraine. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that while such agreements […]

A United Nations investigation has concluded that the former Bangladesh government's response to mass protests in 2024 potentially amounted to crimes against humanity, involving systematic violence that resulted in approximately 1,400 deaths. The UN human rights team's report details how the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allegedly implemented "an official policy to attack and violently repress anti-government protesters," with directives coming from political leaders and senior security officials. The unrest originated as student protests against civil service job quotas before expanding into a nationwide movement opposing Hasina's Awami League Party. Hasina, who had served as prime minister for 15 years, departed by helicopter to India in August as protesters approached her residence. According to UN human rights chief Volker Türk, evidence suggests that government officials, security forces, and individuals connected to the ruling party committed "serious and systematic […]

Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, has secured a temporary court victory following his abrupt dismissal by President Donald Trump. The federal watchdog, which oversees investigations into whistleblower retaliation and enforcement of ethics laws including the Hatch Act, was terminated via email on Friday evening. According to Dellinger's federal lawsuit filed Monday, the termination notice failed to provide any cause for his removal, simply stating: "On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Special Counsel of the US Office of Special Counsel is terminated, effective immediately." The Office of Special Counsel, which operates independently from the Justice Department's special counsel offices that handle politically sensitive criminal cases, maintains specific protections for its leader's position, requiring cause for removal. A federal judge has issued a temporary order allowing Dellinger […]