Top German Intelligence Agency Believes COVID Started as Chinese Lab Leak
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Top German Intelligence Agency Believes COVID Started as Chinese Lab Leak

Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND) assessed in 2020 that there was an 80-90% probability coronavirus accidentally leaked from a Chinese laboratory, according to German media reports. Two German newspapers uncovered details of a previously unpublished BND assessment. The intelligence agency reportedly had indications that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had conducted experiments modifying viruses to increase transmissibility to humans for research purposes. China has maintained its denial, stating the cause "should be determined by scientists" and referencing a World Health Organization investigation that concluded the lab-leak theory was "extremely unlikely." No scientific consensus exists regarding the pandemic's origin. While many scientists contest the lab leak hypothesis citing insufficient evidence, the theory has gained traction among intelligence agencies. In January, the US CIA assessed coronavirus "more likely" leaked from a lab than emerged from animals. According to Die Zeit and Sueddeutscher […]

South African Troops Flee Congo As Rebels Capture Major Cities
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South African Troops Flee Congo As Rebels Capture Major Cities

Southern African leaders have decided to withdraw their military forces from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where they've been supporting government efforts against rebel fighters. The "phased withdrawal" decision was reached during a virtual summit of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (Sadc) on Thursday. The troops were deployed two years ago to assist the Congolese army in its battle against the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. However, the mission suffered a significant setback when at least 19 soldiers from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania were killed as M23 forces captured the strategic city of Goma in January. Despite the troop withdrawal, Sadc leaders affirmed their commitment to "support interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace" in the region. The announcement did not specify reasons for the withdrawal decision. The regional bloc emphasized the need for diplomatic and political solutions to resolve the […]

US Woman Arrested For Allegedly Holding Stepson Captive For 20 Years
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US Woman Arrested For Allegedly Holding Stepson Captive For 20 Years

A 32-year-old Connecticut man reportedly escaped two decades of captivity by setting fire to the small room where his stepmother allegedly held him prisoner, according to officials. Emergency responders arrived at the burning home and rescued the severely malnourished man from a 72-square-foot room. Weighing just 68 pounds when found, the man received treatment for smoke inhalation after his escape. Police in Waterbury, Connecticut said the man admitted to starting the fire after enduring "prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment" for years. When asked why he set the fire, he simply told police: "I wanted my freedom." The man's stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, 56, faces kidnapping and cruelty charges. She has denied all allegations against her. Prosecutors claim Sullivan provided the victim with only a sandwich and two small water bottles daily for years. He was allegedly permitted just […]

Abercrombie & Fitch To Pay Ex-CEO's Legal Bills After Being Charged With Sex Trafficking
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Abercrombie & Fitch To Pay Ex-CEO’s Legal Bills After Being Charged With Sex Trafficking

A US court has ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch must cover former CEO Mike Jeffries' legal fees as he defends against sex trafficking charges, despite the company's stated disgust with his alleged conduct. The fashion brand had attempted to avoid payment by arguing the chargesโ€”alleging Jeffries ran an international prostitution and sex trafficking operationโ€”related to his personal life rather than his professional role. However, Judge Paul Fioravanti determined that the "horrific" charges filed last year were connected to Jeffries' position as CEO, citing an indemnification agreement signed when Jeffries resigned in 2014. This ruling creates significant financial implications for Abercrombie & Fitch, a billion-dollar company with over 750 stores worldwide, including the Hollister brand. Legal experts estimate the company's costs will likely reach millions of dollars. Questions remain about why A&F established such a comprehensive indemnity agreement when Jeffries departed […]

Qatar Gas Deal Brings Light To Syria After Years Of Darkness
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Qatar Gas Deal Brings Light To Syria After Years Of Darkness

Qatar has started delivering natural gas to Syria through Jordan, addressing the country's severe electricity shortages and power outages, according to state news agency QNA. In a Thursday statement, Qatar announced that this initiative is part of an agreement signed with Jordan in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme. The deal will provide natural gas supplies "generating power from 400 megawatts of electricity daily and gradually increase production at the Deir Ali power plant in Syria." This electricity will be distributed to numerous Syrian cities, including Damascus, Rif Dimashq, As Suwayda, Daraa, Al Qunaitra, Homs, Hama, Tartous, Latakia, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zur. Fahad Hamad Hassan Al-Sulaiti, who heads the Qatar Fund for Development, described the initiative as "a pivotal step towards meeting the Syrian people's energy needs and reflects a shared commitment among all parties to work together for […]

Taiwan President Claims China Recruited Criminals And Police In Secret War
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Taiwan President Claims China Recruited Criminals And Police In Secret War

Taiwan's President William Lai Ching-te has warned of China's intensifying espionage and infiltration efforts against the island, announcing plans to counter Beijing's attempts to "absorb" Taiwan. In a Thursday press briefing following security meetings, Lai said China is cultivating relationships with various segments of Taiwanese society, including organized crime groups, media personalities, and police officers. "They are carrying out activities such as division, destruction and subversion from within us," Lai stated. The president emphasized the need for stronger measures against Chinese efforts to undermine Taiwan's defenses, pointing to recent incidents of psychological warfare that fall short of armed conflict. According to government data, 64 people were charged with Chinese espionage last yearโ€”triple the number from 2021. Most were current or former military officials. "Many are worried that our country, hard-earned freedom and democracy and prosperity will be lost bit by […]

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US Supreme Court Rejects Trump Administration’s Request to Halt Foreign Aid Payments

A divided US Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration's request to maintain a freeze on billions of dollars in congressionally approved foreign aid. The Court did not specify when the funds must be released, allowing the administration to continue challenging the issue in lower courts. The 5-4 ruling saw Chief Justice John Roberts joining Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson in the majority. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. The majority noted that since a court-ordered deadline to disburse the funds had already passed, lower courts should clarify what obligations the government must fulfill to comply with the temporary restraining order. The ruling doesn't require immediate payment of up to $2 billion in foreign aid; it simply allows the district court to potentially compel those payments with […]

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Top Diplomat Fired After Questioning Trump’s Knowledge on History

New Zealand has dismissed its most senior envoy to the United Kingdom following remarks that questioned US President Donald Trump's understanding of history. During an event in London on Tuesday, High Commissioner Phil Goff compared efforts to end the Russia- Ukraine war to the 1938 Munich Agreement, which permitted Adolf Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia. Mr. Goff recalled Sir Winston Churchill's criticism of the agreement, then said, "President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?" New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters called his comments "deeply disappointing" and said they made his position "untenable." Goff's remarks came after Trump paused military aid to Kyiv following a contentious exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week. The High Commissioner contrasted Trump with Churchill who, while […]

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“I Thought We Were in Hell”: Aid Worker Survives Russian Missile Strike on Ukrainian Hotel

An aid worker described surviving a Russian missile attack on a hotel in Ukraine as feeling like an "apocalyptic movie." Karol Swiacki, founder of Bournemouth-based Ukraine Relief, and his team were leaving dinner when caught in the attack on Kryvyi Rih overnight. The strike killed at least four people and injured 31, according to the city's regional governor. Kryvyi Rih is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown. Zelensky is currently attending an EU emergency summit where he thanked European leaders for their "strong support." Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, Swiacki explained he had traveled to Ukraine to deliver supplies to shelters, orphanages, and schools. He has previously won a BBC award for his aid work in Ukraine. "We had a nice dinner together and were planning to go to a school in the morning," Swiacki told listeners. "We were about to […]

British Man Faces 19 Years In Russian Prison After Capture In Ukraine War
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British Man Faces 19 Years In Russian Prison After Capture In Ukraine War

A British man fighting for Ukraine has been sentenced to 19 years imprisonment by a Russian court after being captured during combat operations. James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, received the sentence following a three-day closed military trial in Kursk, according to the regional court press service on Wednesday. The court found him guilty of "mercenary activities" and a "terrorist act." Anderson, reportedly captured in November during Ukraine's cross-border offensive in Russia's Kursk region, pleaded guilty to all charges. His sentence includes five years in prison before transfer to a penal colony for the remaining term. Court-released footage showed Anderson silently nodding after hearing his translated sentence. The United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a strong rebuke of the verdict, stating Anderson faced "false charges" and emphasizing international legal protections for prisoners of war. "Under international law, prisoners of war […]

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