Conflict

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 […]

Hamas announced a postponement of the scheduled release of Israeli hostages, citing alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement by Israel. The release was planned for Saturday as part of an ongoing exchange program involving Palestinian prisoners. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz termed the announcement a "complete violation of the ceasefire agreement" and directed the Israel Defense Forces to maintain maximum alertness for potential scenarios in Gaza. Former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, suggesting the ceasefire should end if all hostages aren't released by Saturday. "If hostages were not released, all hell is going to break out," Trump stated, though emphasizing he was speaking personally and Israel could make its own decisions. Currently, 76 hostages remain in Gaza, including 73 taken during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack and three from earlier incidents. The delay announcement coincided with […]

New Zealand and the Cook Islands are experiencing diplomatic tensions over the latter's planned partnership agreement with China. Mark Brown, the Cook Islands' leader, is heading to Beijing for the nation's first state visit to sign the deal, sparking concerns from New Zealand. The controversy centers on New Zealand's claim that it wasn't adequately consulted about the agreement, despite their longstanding "free association" relationship that involves defense and financial support. Brown maintains no dispute, asserting his nation's right to independent decision-making while emphasizing consistent communication with New Zealand. The proposed agreement with China encompasses infrastructure, trade, tourism, and potentially deep-sea mining. While Brown views seabed mining as a potential economic breakthrough, critics worry about its environmental impact on the already climate-vulnerable islands. New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has expressed concerns about transparency, suggesting possible implications for aid arrangements. The […]

A bomb explosion in a luxury Moscow apartment complex on Monday resulted in at least one death and four injuries, targeting a pro-Russian paramilitary leader from eastern Ukraine, according to Russian state media reports. Armen Sarkisyan, the senior paramilitary leader, died in hospital after being critically injured in the blast. The explosion occurred in the lobby of the "Scarlet Sails" complex, located approximately 12 km from the Kremlin, just as a man with bodyguards entered the building. Russian state news agency TASS described the incident as a carefully planned "assassination attempt" and reported that law enforcement was investigating those who may have ordered the attack. Another state news agency, RIA, noted that Sarkisyan was in critical condition, with part of his leg being amputated at the time of initial reporting. Ukraine's SBU security service had previously characterized Sarkisyan as a […]

The Trump administration's widely publicized immigration enforcement efforts have revealed significant challenges in implementing mass deportation, with some of the more than 8,000 immigrants arrested since Inauguration Day being released back into the United States. Federal immigration operations intensified in major cities like Chicago and New York, with agents across multiple agencies increasing arrest numbers. However, practical limitations have complicated the administration's deportation strategy. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) faces significant space constraints in detention facilities and must comply with federal court orders preventing indefinite detention. ICE daily posts arrest figures but does not disclose detailed information about the status of those arrested. An ICE spokesperson acknowledged that federal court cases limit the agency's ability to indefinitely detain individuals, particularly when their home countries refuse to accept them back. Those released are placed under the Alternatives to Detention program, a […]

A 59-year-old Nigerian businessman narrowly escaped potential fatal consequences after attempting to smuggle 81 cocaine pellets by ingesting them during an international travel route involving Ethiopia and Lebanon. Chijioke Igbokwe was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after a complex international journey. According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, Igbokwe departed Lagos on January 22nd, ingested the cocaine pellets in Addis Ababa on January 23rd, and attempted to travel to Beirut, Lebanon, for a $3,000 delivery fee. Lebanon denied him entry due to insufficient funds, resulting in his deportation back to Addis Ababa. Unable to excrete the pellets, he returned to Lagos, where NDLEA officers intercepted him. Medical interventions became critical as the smuggling attempt posed significant health risks. After five days of observation, only 24 pellets were naturally expelled. […]