trending_flat

Ethics Watchdog Fights Back and Wins Round One

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 […]

trending_flat

Ceasefire Hits Roadblock as Hamas Delays Scheduled Hostage Release

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 […]

trending_flat

Tiny Island Nation Caught Between New Zealand and China in Diplomatic Power Play

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 […]

Trump Freezes South Africa Aid Over Controversial Land Reform Law
trending_flat

Trump Freezes South Africa Aid Over Controversial Land Reform Law

President Donald Trump has suspended U.S. aid to South Africa following the passage of a land expropriation law, deepening tensions between Washington and Pretoria. The executive order, signed Friday, condemned the legislation as showing "shocking disregard" for citizens' rights by enabling land seizures from ethnic minority Afrikaners without compensation. Trump's order criticized what he called "countless" policies undermining equal opportunity and "hateful rhetoric" encouraging violence against "racially disfavored" landowners. He also cited South Africa's recent foreign policy positions, including its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and strengthened ties with Iran, as reasons for the aid freeze. The order outlined plans to support the resettlement of Afrikaners "escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination." This follows escalating tensions between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, with Trump accusing the administration of "confiscating land" and discriminating against "certain classes […]

trending_flat

China’s Surprising Move Against Trump’s New Tariffs

Beijing has responded to recent US tariff announcements with measured countermeasures, signaling both resistance and openness to negotiation. The Chinese government announced plans to implement a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas, alongside a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-engine cars imported from the US, effective February 10. The timing appears strategic, allowing room for diplomatic engagement before implementation. A planned call between the two leaders this week, confirmed by the White House, suggests potential for dialogue despite the escalating tensions. China's response appears calculated, targeting specific sectors rather than matching Trump's broader 10% levy on all Chinese imports. The impact on US natural gas exports may be limited, as China represents only 2.3% of America's global LNG exports, while its major vehicle imports come primarily from Europe and Japan. The current situation echoes previous […]

Trump Trade War Forces UK Leader To Choose Between US And Europe
trending_flat

Trump Trade War Forces UK Leader To Choose Between US And Europe

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has emphasized that the UK is "not choosing between the US and the EU" following President Donald Trump's threat of trade tariffs against the European Union. The statement came after Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico - both since paused - while suggesting a potential deal could be arranged with the UK. During a Brussels press conference, where Starmer met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and EU leaders, he maintained that both relationships were crucial to the UK. Starmer noted it was "early days" regarding US tariff discussions and expressed support for "open and strong trading relations." The visit marked the first time a UK Prime Minister has attended EU leader talks since Brexit. On defense matters, Rutte acknowledged occasional "issues between allies" but emphasized their shared commitment to maintaining deterrence. Regarding […]

South Korean President Faces Court Again For Hearings On Removal
trending_flat

South Korean President Faces Court Again For Hearings On Removal

South Korea faces an unprecedented political crisis as suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol attended Constitutional Court hearings Tuesday to determine his permanent removal from office following his attempted declaration of martial law. The crisis began December 3 when Yoon, a former prosecutor, declared martial law and dispatched troops to parliament, effectively suspending civilian rule. The opposition-controlled parliament managed to vote down the decree within six hours and subsequently impeached him over the action. The situation escalated in mid-January when Yoon was arrested in a pre-dawn operation on insurrection charges, marking the first arrest of a sitting South Korean president. He remains in detention while attending the impeachment proceedings at the Constitutional Court. If the court upholds parliament's impeachment decision, South Korea must hold a presidential election within 60 days. Yoon arrived at Tuesday's hearing in a convoy of black SUVs […]

El Salvador Offers To Lock Up US Criminals Inside Mega Prison
trending_flat

El Salvador Offers To Lock Up US Criminals Inside Mega Prison

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has made an unprecedented proposal to imprison convicted American criminals in his country's facilities, an offer that received praise from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The proposal came during Rubio's visit to Bukele's Lake Coatepeque residence near San Salvador. Bukele offered to house American convicts for a fee in Latin America's largest prison, which opened last year. "We have offered the United States of America the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system," Bukele stated on X. "The fee would be relatively low for the US but significant for us, making our entire prison system sustainable." After a three-hour meeting, Rubio expressed strong support for the arrangement, describing it as "the most unprecedented, extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world." He highlighted that the offer extends to "dangerous American criminals in custody in […]

trending_flat

Deadly Bomb Blast Targets Pro-Russian Paramilitary Leader in Moscow

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 […]

trending_flat

Trump Administration’s Immigration Arrests

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 […]

Login to enjoy full advantages

Please login or subscribe to continue.

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

Stop following

Unfollow Cancel

Cancel subscription

Are you sure you want to cancel your subscription? You will lose your Premium access and stored playlists.

Go back Confirm cancellation