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Oscar-Winning Filmmaker Claims Assault During West Bank Incident

Hamdan Ballal, a recent Oscar winner for the documentary "No Other Land," has reported being beaten by Israeli settlers and soldiers in the West Bank village of Susiya. The incident occurred shortly after his film's international recognition, raising tensions in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Ballal, the event unfolded during the evening of a Ramadan fast, when approximately two dozen Jewish settlers entered the village. He claims a settler named Shem Tov Luski attacked him, kicking his head and striking him, while soldiers were present. Ballal says he was then detained and held for over 20 hours, during which he was blindfolded and subjected to physical abuse. The Israeli military confirmed detaining three Palestinians and one Israeli civilian that night, though they have not responded to Ballal's specific allegations of mistreatment. Luski denied beating Ballal, instead claiming that Palestinians […]

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Leaked Signal Chat Reveals Military Communication Controversy

A recent incident involving a Signal group chat has sparked significant debate about communication protocols among high-level government officials. The Atlantic magazine published transcripts of text messages detailing potential U.S. military strike plans in Yemen, which were inadvertently shared in a group chat that included the magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. The messages, reportedly sent by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, included technical details about military aircraft and strike timing, specifically mentioning F-18 fighter jets and MQ-9 drones. While the texts did not specify exact targets, they provided insights into potential military operations against Houthi militias. Multiple administration officials, including President Trump, DNI Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, have characterized the messages as non-classified. They emphasized that the communication did not involve sensitive strategic information. The National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the message thread and initiated a […]

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Education Department Launches Civil Rights Investigation into Portland School Sports Policy

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has initiated an investigation into the Portland Public Schools District and the Oregon School Activities Association regarding their policies on transgender student athletes. The investigation centers on a transgender high school runner's participation in female sports events and access to girls' locker rooms. The department is examining whether these policies potentially violate Title IX anti-discrimination protections. Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong stated that the school district is fully cooperating with the federal investigation. She emphasized the district's commitment to complying with Oregon state law and maintaining a commitment to student dignity, safety, and respect. The investigation follows recent shifts in federal guidance surrounding gender participation in school sports. The Department of Education's acting assistant secretary for civil rights, Craig Trainor, asserted that the probe aims to ensure that anti-discrimination protections for women and […]

Russia Demands Sanctions Lift Before Black Sea Peace Deal
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Russia Demands Sanctions Lift Before Ukraine Maritime Peace Deal

Russia has indicated that Western sanctions must be partially lifted before implementing a maritime ceasefire with Ukraine, complicating recent peace negotiations. Hours after the US announced separate deals halting strikes in the Black Sea, the Kremlin outlined specific conditions, including revoking sanctions on state agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank and restoring Swift international payment system access for Russian financial institutions. Simultaneously, Moscow launched a drone attack on Mykolaiv, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky interpreting this as a clear signal of Russia's reluctance for peace. The EU and its allies had originally suspended Russian banks' Swift access to disrupt payments for energy and agricultural exports. Reversing these sanctions would require EU approval, which appears uncertain given recent statements supporting Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested Russia might be attempting to delay ending the war, stating, "I think that Russia wants to see an […]

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Trump Schedules Third Cabinet Meeting with Musk Expected to Attend

President Donald Trump will convene his Cabinet secretaries for a third known meeting Monday morning, with Elon Musk expected to participate, according to a senior administration official. The official described the 11 a.m. gathering as a "follow up on the last DOGE meeting," referring to a March 6 meeting where Trump established boundaries on the billionaire's authority following criticism of new cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency. Trump indicated on Truth Social that follow-up meetings would occur every two weeks, with Monday's meeting roughly matching that schedule. This meeting comes as Trump's administration confronts legal challenges regarding immigration and prepares to announce new tariffs โ€” while Musk continues to attract scrutiny over his role. On Friday, Trump rejected a report that Musk would receive a briefing on U.S. military plans for a potential China conflict during a Pentagon visit, […]

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U.S. Sentences Man for Assisting Chinese Repatriation Efforts

A real estate businessman has been sentenced to over a year in U.S. prison for helping Chinese authorities pressure an expatriate to return to China. Prosecutors state Quanzhong An participated in "Operation Fox Hunt" - described by Beijing as an initiative to pursue fugitives, but characterized by Washington as transnational repression targeting dissidents abroad. "Quanzhong An acted at the direction of the Chinese government to harass and intimidate individuals living on U.S. soil as part of a scheme to force their repatriation," said Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney John Durham. China's embassy and consulate did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China has previously denied threatening its nationals in other countries. An, 58, a Chinese citizen with legal U.S. residency, received a 20-month sentence after pleading guilty to acting as an illegal foreign agent. He has already served seven months. His […]

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Federal Workers Face Uncertainty After Court-Ordered Reinstatements

Raphael Garcia, a Department of Veterans Affairs analyst who was fired last month during President Donald Trump's initiative to reduce the federal workforce, learned this week of his reinstatement following orders from two federal judges. However, Garcia's professional uncertainty continues. Rather than returning to work, he has been placed on administrative leave while the Trump administration appeals the judge's rulings. Though verbally assured he'll receive back pay during his leave period, the tumultuous early days of Trump's second term have left Garcia skeptical. "I'll believe it when I see it," he told NBC News, noting he won't know if his salary has resumed until late March's pay period ends. Garcia is among 24,000 probationary federal workers caught in career uncertainty as Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency works to transform federal bureaucracy. These employees have experienced abrupt terminations and reinstatements, […]

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President Appoints New Prime Minister Amid Economic and Migration Challenges

Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri and appointed Sara Zaafarani as his replacement. The change comes as Tunisia faces economic difficulties and migration issues involving people from sub-Saharan Africa. Zaafarani, an engineer who HAS served as Minister of Equipment and Housing since 2021, will become Tunisia's third prime minister in less than two years. Her appointment follows Saied's growing dissatisfaction with his ministers. Last month, he also dismissed Finance Minister Sihem Boughdiri. During a meeting shown on the presidency's Facebook page, Saied called on Zaafarani to improve government coordination and address key challenges. Alongside her appointment, Salah Zouari was named Minister of Equipment. Tunisia's economy continues to struggle, with growth at just 1.4% over the past year and ongoing public finance issues. Shortages of essential goods including sugar, rice, and coffee have increased public frustration. At […]

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Senate Backs Rivers State Emergency, Sets Six-Month Review Timeline

The Nigerian Senate has endorsed the state of emergency in Rivers State, exercising its constitutional authority to address the ongoing political crisis. In a closed-door meeting Thursday, senators applied Section 305(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the President to declare emergency rule when governance significantly breaks down. They directed President Bola Tinubu to conduct periodic reviews and consider ending the emergency within six months. The Senate also activated Section 11(4) of the Constitution, enabling the National Assembly to take over legislative responsibilities for Rivers State while elected officials remain suspended. Federal lawmakers will manage the state's legislative functions until stability returns. Additionally, senators announced a committee of prominent citizens to mediate between the conflicting political groups in Rivers, aiming to promote dialogue and permanently resolve the crisis. This decision follows the House of Representatives' earlier approval of the emergency […]

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Trump Forces Amtrak CEO’s Sudden Exit as Musk Eyes Railway Privatization

Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner resigned immediately after more than four years leading the national passenger railroad, following pressure from the White House administration. Sources indicate the decision came at President Trump's request. Gardner stated he was stepping down to "ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration." Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the need to address safety and security concerns at Washington's Union Station, particularly regarding homelessness and crime affecting commuter safety. Meanwhile, presidential advisor Elon Musk has suggested privatizing the railroad. Despite previous attempts to reduce federal funding, Congress recently approved $2.42 billion for Amtrak through September 2024. The railroad has shown strong performance, with ridership exceeding pre-pandemic levels and reaching 32.8 million customer trips in 2023, a 15% increase. Passenger revenue grew 9% to $2.5 billion, while operating losses decreased 9% to […]

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