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@Jeff the Chef you may like contravening forum rules as you have admitted there and find it entertaining however I can advice you the next time will have consequences

IDF Encircles Rafah as Israel Urges Palestinians to Dismantle Hamas On April 12, 2025, the Israel Defense Forces declared full control over the Morag Corridor in the southern Gaza Strip, effectively severing Rafah from Khan Younis and completing the encirclement of Gaza's southernmost city. According to the IDF, the 36th Division now controls the Morag Corridor, while the Gaza Division is stationed along the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic strip adjacent to the Egypt-Gaza border. In a forceful statement issued Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called on Palestinians to take decisive action against Hamas. “This is the final moment to remove Hamas and release the hostages and bring about an end to the war,” Katz said. He further warned that “intensive IDF activity will soon expand to additional places in most of Gaza, and you will have to evacuate the combat zones.” The IDF also confirmed that three rockets fired from Gaza toward the Israeli border town of Nir Yitzhak were successfully intercepted. While no injuries were reported and the rockets landed in open areas, the attack prompted a swift response. In retaliation, the IDF issued an evacuation order for residents in parts of Khan Younis. The order was accompanied by a map shared on X (formerly Twitter) by IDF Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee, who described it as a “final warning” ahead of planned strikes in the area. Following earlier warnings issued nearly two weeks ago, the military now plans to operate in previously untouched areas of Rafah to root out remaining Hamas fighters. This push forms part of a larger effort to expand the IDF's buffer zone in southern Gaza, which will eventually stretch from the Egyptian border to the outskirts of Khan Younis. When completed, the zone will encompass all of Rafah, amounting to roughly 20 percent of the Gaza Strip. Highlighting the humanitarian and political complexities of the conflict, Katz accused Hamas leadership of betraying the Palestinian people. “Hamas leaders are hiding in tunnels with their families and in luxury hotels abroad with billions in their bank accounts and are using you as hostages,” he said. “It is time to stand up and remove Hamas and release all the Israeli hostages. This is the only way to end the war.” In the past ten days, as part of its operations in the Morag Corridor, the IDF reported killing dozens of Hamas fighters and destroying significant parts of the group’s military infrastructure, including tunnel networks. The military’s momentum signals a deepening of its campaign in Gaza, with further expansion imminent. Based on a report by BBC | TOI 2025-04-12

Beyond the Veil: Philosopher Claims Heaven Is Real—and There Are Seven Levels of It Philosopher and author Chris Carter believes he has found compelling proof that death is not the end but the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Inspired by a year spent in a supposedly haunted farmhouse in England, Carter’s interest in the supernatural has evolved into a decades-long pursuit, culminating in his latest work, The Case for the Afterlife. In it, he argues that consciousness survives the body, that reincarnation is real, and that the afterlife is composed of multiple realms—seven distinct “levels” of heaven. Carter, who studied at Oxford, describes minor but eerie events in the English farmhouse—like doors slamming inexplicably and a disembodied female voice—as the catalyst for his lifelong research into life beyond death. His investigations span near-death experiences, apparitions, children who remember past lives, and post-mortem communications with the deceased. Through these studies, he concludes that there is overwhelming evidence that consciousness not only continues after death but progresses through a series of spiritual planes. One of the most detailed visions of the afterlife comes from Frederic Myers, a 19th-century poet and founder of the Society for Psychical Research. Myers died at 57, yet reportedly communicated vivid post-death messages through psychics years later—most notably through Irish medium Geraldine Cummins, whom many considered credible. Myers outlined a structured journey of the soul through several realms, beginning with Earth and continuing through spiritual levels he named Hades, the third plane, Eido, the Plane of Flame, the Plane of Light, and finally Out-Yonder—described as a flight from the material universe. Carter explains that, according to Myers, the first realm after death, Hades, is not a place of torment but a resting ground. “I died in Italy, a land I loved, and I was very weary at the time of my passing. For me Hades was a place of rest, a place of half-lights and drowsy peace,” Myers said. From there, the soul moves to the third plane, which is much like Earth but far more beautiful. Here, souls live in communities shaped by shared values and desires, or in solitary environments crafted from their own imaginations. The fourth plane, Eido, is what Myers called the first true heaven—vivid, magnificent, and more stunning than anything imaginable on Earth. It is here that he claimed to reside. Beyond this lie the fifth, sixth, and seventh planes, each progressively more removed from earthly experience. In the sixth, beings no longer have physical forms but exist as pure white light, embodying the thought of their Creator. Not all souls, however, experience joy and serenity in the afterlife. Carter notes that the initial plane one enters depends on their moral and spiritual development on Earth. Those who lived selfish or harmful lives may find themselves in the darker, lower regions of the third plane. These areas are bleak and devoid of children, inhabited only by those stuck in a state of moral immaturity. “How long they remain in this nether region depends on how long they choose to remain in a selfish, morally undeveloped state,” Carter explains. Rejecting the conventional religious idea of heaven and hell, Carter portrays hell not as eternal torment but as a kind of mental anguish—a “fire of the mind.” He stresses that the journey toward the divine is long and gradual. When asked if souls encounter God soon after death, his answer is clear: “Absolutely not.” According to Myers’s messages, God exists at a level far beyond the initial planes. “We… only can come close in what he describes as the seventh plane,” Carter states. “Immediately after leaving the Earth, we occupy planes of existence not nearly exalted or advanced enough to closely approach the divine.” Even Sir Oliver Lodge, a prominent physicist and friend of Myers, supported the idea that the soul doesn’t awaken to full spiritual reality immediately. In the foreword to one of Cummins’ books, he wrote, “We are not transported to the full blaze of reality all at once.” Ultimately, Carter’s work challenges us to reconsider what lies beyond death. Not an abrupt end, he suggests, but a profound and ongoing evolution—one in which our choices in this life determine the course of our soul’s next steps. Based on a report by Daily Mail 2025-04-13

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Tensions Rise as Police Officers Are Taught About ‘White Privilege’ in Equity Training Thames Valley Police, one of the UK’s largest police forces, has introduced mandatory equity training that includes instruction on “white privilege,” “micro-aggressions,” and the distinction between being “non-racist” and “anti-racist.” This move has sparked internal controversy and accusations of discrimination within the force, particularly among white officers who feel unfairly treated following a recent employment tribunal ruling. The training initiative was launched in September last year, just a month after the force was found guilty by an employment tribunal of discriminating against white officers. At the heart of the tribunal case was the appointment of an Asian sergeant to a detective inspector role that had not been publicly advertised. The decision was part of a “positive action” policy aimed at boosting the promotion chances of ethnic minority officers by laterally moving them into roles where they could gain experience. However, critics argue that the practice bypassed fair competition and violated principles of equal treatment. The equity training has become a flashpoint within the force. A review commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber and conducted by former assistant chief constable Kerrin Wilson warns that framing white privilege in the way Thames Valley Police has done risks alienating white officers. Wilson noted that some officers felt “demonised” and saw the training as creating further division rather than unity. “As white males they felt disadvantaged and ... they had the perception that unfairness was allowed for minority groups but not for majority populations,” she wrote. Wilson’s report also revealed deep discontent across the force. Some ethnic minority officers have reportedly lost faith in diversity initiatives, fearing their promotions or achievements would be dismissed as products of preferential treatment. “A number of minoritised staff have declared openly that they will not seek promotion or specialist moves in the foreseeable future as this has left them feeling that even if they did succeed in securing promotions their efforts would not be accepted by some as genuine,” the report stated. The backlash among white officers has been equally strong, with some reacting “at times bordering on aggressive,” according to the review. Many are said to have demanded disciplinary action against leadership figures responsible for the positive discrimination and expressed a belief that they “have no support within the force.” The report cautions that unless this internal tension is addressed, relations within the police force could deteriorate further. “There is a tangible feeling of being overlooked which is reflected in the wider societal discourse that is emerging around the UK and so cannot be ignored,” the review concluded. “If this is not addressed, this may well lead to even greater divides within the force as cultural attitudes become more hostile.” Rory Geoghegan, a former police officer and founder of the Public Safety Foundation, criticised the use of such training in policing. “Police officers and staff deserve far better from their leaders than to be crudely categorised by skin colour and subjected to reductive, divisive ideologies,” he said. “The independent review exposes this troubling practice, but it fails to identify or confront the underlying issue: the unthinking acceptance of critical race theory – a deeply political framework that has no place in an impartial police service.” Thames Valley Police, responding to the concerns, stressed its commitment to unity and learning. A spokesperson said, “Our staff and officers represent a diverse group with a range of views on many issues – but it’s our shared values that bring us together to protect our communities. We are committed to learning from this employment tribunal and independent review to improve how we work together. We strive to be fair and courageous in how we serve our colleagues and the community.” The controversy at Thames Valley Police comes amid broader concerns about similar practices elsewhere, including recent revelations that West Yorkshire Police temporarily paused applications from white British candidates in a push to diversify its ranks. As the national conversation on equity and representation continues, forces across the UK are grappling with how to balance diversity efforts with fairness and cohesion. Based on a report by The Telegraph 2025-04-12

Trump Threatens to Cut Federal Funding to Sanctuary Cities Amid Immigration Clash President Donald Trump has announced plans to strip all federal funding from cities and states that maintain sanctuary policies, intensifying his administration's aggressive stance on immigration enforcement. In a social media post on Thursday, the president condemned sanctuary cities, declaring them dangerous and unpatriotic. “No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World,” Trump wrote. He continued, “Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!” Sanctuary jurisdictions, including major cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, and Denver, have adopted policies that restrict local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities unless certain legal thresholds are met. Typically, these policies prohibit holding individuals solely based on immigration status or federal detainer requests, unless supported by a judicial warrant. These measures are often defended by local leaders as necessary to build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, and to prevent overreach by federal agencies. President Trump and his allies have long criticized sanctuary cities, arguing they shield undocumented immigrants from deportation and create public safety risks. His administration has been pushing state and local governments to allow federal immigration officers to detain suspects beyond their scheduled release dates, aiming to ramp up arrests and deportations as part of his promised mass-deportation campaign. Although Trump’s recent post did not detail how the funding restrictions would be enforced or how broadly they would apply, the move echoes previous efforts from his first term. During that period, the administration issued an executive order to block certain federal grants to jurisdictions that refused to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In 2020, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the administration, deciding it could legally withhold funds from New York City and seven states with similar sanctuary policies, reversing a 2018 lower court decision. The White House has not yet responded to questions about the latest announcement or provided clarification on how the funding cuts would be implemented. Critics of Trump’s proposal, including local leaders from affected cities, have pushed back strongly. At a recent House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, which is led by the GOP, mayors defended their policies and challenged the narrative that sanctuary cities are unsafe. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, emphasized the positive impact of sanctuary policies on public safety and community trust. “Scapegoating entire communities is not only misleading, it is unjust and it is beneath us,” he said. The renewed push to defund sanctuary jurisdictions is likely to face legal challenges and political opposition, but it underscores Trump’s continued focus on immigration enforcement as a central theme of his agenda. As debates over immigration policy intensify, the tension between federal authority and local autonomy appears destined to remain a flashpoint in national politics. Based on a report by WSJ 2025-04-12

After Asylum: A Glimpse Inside the Hidden Realities of the UK Refugee Hotel System From behind the guarded doors of a migrant hotel in northern England, a clinical lead offers a sobering portrait of life within the UK's asylum system—one not often captured in headlines or political manifestos. Working inside a facility not designed to house hundreds long-term, this insider describes a dysfunctional, opaque, and profit-driven world where newly recognised refugees often move directly from government support to local homelessness, and many may never enter the workforce. The hotel is a modern structure in the centre of a British town, run not by the government, but by a network of for-profit contractors. "The Home Office is not focused on the details in any meaningful way," the clinical lead says. “The physical building is owned by a group of investors. The security is contracted to the lowest bidder… Day-to-day operations are run by a large housing management firm.” These organisations, operating largely in secrecy, have profited from a system that commodifies displaced people, often with little regard for their long-term integration or well-being. Inside the hotel, life is controlled and constrained. There are strict rules: no pets, no electric scooters, no bicycles, and certainly no attempts to personalise rooms with extra furnishings. "It’s hard to make these spaces feel like home," the lead notes. Despite these conditions, many residents resist transfers to dispersal housing. “They have skin in the game: their kids are in school, healthcare is immediately available and they like the city,” the clinician says. While the recent change of government has brought swifter resolutions to asylum claims, it has not been matched with investment in local support services. “Our only multiple-occupancy homeless shelter is entirely full with asylum seekers granted the right to remain,” they explain. “A large number of people will never work a day in their lives, but I am optimistic that, in time, their children will.” Some residents carry stories of extreme suffering. An Eritrean man, tortured and enslaved in Libya before escaping to Italy, eventually made it to the UK. Others arrive from war-torn regions—Ukrainians escaping conscription, Yemenis and Sudanese unable to renew passports from failed states, or failed international students whose circumstances changed mid-study. "People flee death threats and torture abroad," the doctor adds. “I have seen petrol burns from the boat trip, trench foot from the Calais Jungle, men with 100 cigarette burns on their bodies, women separated from their husbands crossing Libya who can barely speak of it.” Many residents arrive without documentation, often having discarded their identities. The Home Office assigns them new names and birthdates based on what they declare. "They may have tried and failed previously under their original name, or they may be wanted overseas. There is no way to verify it." The system, the clinician explains, runs on rules and process rather than humanity. When residents receive their right to remain, the official response is cold and bureaucratic. “You don’t get a letter congratulating you. You get a letter saying you have 28 days to vacate the accommodation. If you don’t, that means they will come and remove you.” With eviction comes the abrupt end of financial support. The £49.18 per week for self-catering stops, as does the £8.86 for those receiving hotel meals. Former asylum seekers must now navigate the same overwhelmed public systems as British citizens—Jobcentres, council offices, homelessness declarations—without the structured support they previously received. “I have seen whole families banging on the hotel door to see the doctor days after departure. But we can’t see you; you are no longer our patients. You are not asylum seekers anymore; you are ordinary British citizens.” In a system where the end of the asylum process is marked not by relief, but by disorientation and struggle, one quiet truth echoes through the words of the clinician: “After the right to remain comes the hard part, the one that nobody had really told you about.” Based on a report by The Telegraph 2025-04-12

A Ukrainian teenager living as a refugee in Europe was allegedly recruited by Russian intelligence operatives to carry out a firebombing attack on an Ikea store in Lithuania, according to reports that underscore Moscow’s escalating use of unconventional tactics in its conflict with the West. The teenager, just 17 years old, is said to have been promised $11,000 and a BMW in exchange for setting fire to the Ikea store in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, as part of Russia’s growing hybrid warfare strategy aimed at sowing chaos and undermining Western support for Ukraine. According to a New York Times report, Lithuanian prosecutors believe the young man was approached by Russian spies through Zengi, a Chinese encrypted messaging app. The agents, who allegedly used the James Bond-inspired alias “Q,” are said to have made contact with the teen while he was living as a refugee in Poland. He had fled Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and was later resettled in the European Union. Lithuanian authorities claim he entered the country in April 2024 to scout targets before launching the arson attack in May. Security officials believe the teen planted an incendiary device in the bedding department of the Ikea store, intending to burn the entire structure to the ground. Though the fire failed to destroy the building, it has sparked widespread concern about the growing use of refugees in covert sabotage efforts. According to reports, while the teenager did receive an old BMW, the cash he was promised never materialized. He also reportedly surveilled another Ikea store in the city of Siauliai, a location that hosts a NATO base. “This is a disturbing evolution in Russia’s hybrid war against Europe,” said Marius Cesnulevicius, national security adviser to the Lithuanian president. “For Russia, age, gender and ideology don’t matter... their goal is to coerce and deter us from supporting Ukraine. We are supporting Ukraine, and, in the Kremlin’s logic, this means we are supporting Nazis.” Lithuania’s concerns have been further reinforced by a series of recent incidents suggesting a broader campaign of sabotage across Europe. In Siauliai last year, authorities arrested an 82-year-old retired man, Eduardas Manovas, who was later sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for spying on behalf of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency. Spy equipment was reportedly found in his home. The teenager in the Ikea case is also believed to have been communicating with his Russian contacts through Telegram, another encrypted platform. There, they used the codename “Warrior2Alpha.” Lithuanian intelligence officials have expressed alarm over how easily Russia appears to recruit individuals to carry out such attacks, likening the process to a “gig economy” for sabotage. Darius Jauniskis, the outgoing head of Lithuania’s state security department, did not mince words when describing the broader implications. “We have already entered a war zone in Europe. Their goal... is to create havoc, to create mistrust and panic... welcome to World War III.” The Ikea arson attempt coincided with a suspicious fire at a Berlin arms factory and came amid a spate of other incidents investigators now suspect may be linked to Russian intelligence. Authorities have accused Russian operatives of targeting DHL logistics facilities in cities like Birmingham, Leipzig, and Vilnius, aiming to disrupt aviation by planting incendiary devices. A shopping center blaze in Poland during the same period is also being blamed on Russian agents. The coordinated nature of these attacks, including apparent prior research into fire safety protocols at a German arms factory, points to an increasingly aggressive Russian campaign aimed at striking critical infrastructure, fostering instability, and discouraging European nations from continuing their support for Ukraine. Based on a report by The Telegraph 2025-04-12

In a confidential meeting held in Geneva last December, Chinese officials delivered a quiet but chilling message to their American counterparts: Beijing was behind a series of cyberattacks targeting critical U.S. infrastructure. According to sources familiar with the meeting, the Chinese delegation indirectly acknowledged that the intrusions were linked to growing U.S. support for Taiwan, suggesting the cyber campaigns were intended as a warning. The summit, which took place between senior officials from both nations, marked a rare moment of semi-acknowledgment from China, whose officials typically deny involvement in such activities. The attacks—part of what cybersecurity researchers have named “Volt Typhoon”—had previously been attributed by U.S. intelligence to the Chinese government, which appeared to be positioning itself within American computer networks to enable swift, damaging attacks in the event of military conflict. During the Geneva session, Wang Lei, a high-ranking cyber official from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stopped short of explicitly admitting responsibility. However, his comments strongly implied that the infrastructure hacks were a response to Washington’s military backing of Taiwan. “China wants U.S. officials to know that, yes, they do have this capability, and they are willing to use it,” said Dakota Cary, a China expert with SentinelOne. Cary noted that such a tacit admission would only come from someone authorized by the highest levels of Xi Jinping’s administration. American officials present at the meeting interpreted the remarks as a calculated signal from Beijing. “It was indirect and somewhat ambiguous,” said a former U.S. official familiar with the conversation, “but most in the room saw it as a tacit admission and a warning to the U.S. about Taiwan.” The gathering included representatives from the State Department, the Pentagon, the National Security Council, and intelligence agencies. It was led on the U.S. side by Nate Fick, who was then serving as the ambassador-at-large for cyberspace and digital policy. The meeting occurred amid broader revelations about Chinese cyber operations, including a separate campaign—dubbed “Salt Typhoon”—that gave Chinese operatives access to telecommunications networks like AT&T and Verizon. That breach enabled Chinese intelligence to monitor unencrypted communications of U.S. government officials and political figures, including those in the Trump and Harris presidential campaigns. While that issue surfaced during the Geneva talks, it was largely set aside to focus on the more provocative Volt Typhoon campaign, which targeted civilian infrastructure such as ports, water utilities, and airports. The State Department declined to comment directly on the Geneva meeting but emphasized that the U.S. had “made clear to Beijing it will take actions in response to Chinese malicious cyber activity,” calling the hacking “some of the gravest and most persistent threats to U.S. national security.” The National Security Council under the Trump White House also declined to comment. Beijing, meanwhile, responded to inquiries by accusing the U.S. of using cybersecurity to “smear and slander China,” and dismissed the accusations as disinformation about “so-called hacking threats.” Since the meeting, tensions between the two countries have worsened, with the U.S. deepening its economic and military confrontation with China. The Trump administration has vowed to adopt more aggressive cyber tactics, even as it faces internal turmoil, including the dismissal of hundreds of cybersecurity staff and the firing of the National Security Agency’s top leaders—moves that some lawmakers fear could weaken U.S. defenses. Despite the ambiguous language used during the Geneva summit, the message was unmistakable to U.S. officials. The strategic placement of cyber weapons within civilian infrastructure, and the willingness to acknowledge it—however subtly—signaled that China is prepared to escalate its response if Taiwan becomes a flashpoint for conflict. Based on a report by WSJ 2025-04-12

Stanford Protesters Face Felony Charges for Building Takeover Twelve pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including current and former Stanford University students, are now facing felony charges in connection with a June 2024 protest that saw the occupation and vandalism of a key administrative building on campus. According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the individuals have been charged with felony vandalism and felony conspiracy to trespass following the early morning demonstration that left the university property extensively damaged. The protest began at dawn on June 5, 2024, the final day of Stanford’s spring classes. Protesters, rallying in support of Palestine, barricaded themselves inside the building housing the university president’s office while others formed a line outside. The Stanford Daily reported that during the occupation, demonstrators chanted, “Palestine will be free, we will free Palestine.” The occupation lasted approximately three hours before authorities intervened. Prosecutors allege the demonstrators caused widespread damage during the takeover, including spray-painting walls, breaking windows and furniture, disabling security cameras, and splattering a red liquid resembling blood on various items throughout the building. The DA’s office estimated the total damages at several hundred thousand dollars. The age range of those charged spans from 19 to 32. They are scheduled to be arraigned later this month at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. A student journalist who was also arrested during the incident was not charged, as prosecutors determined they had not participated in the acts of vandalism. Evidence gathered during the investigation included cellphone records that revealed messages among the accused, detailing plans for the protest. These communications reportedly included a “do-it-yourself occupation guide” that prosecutors say helped organize and coordinate the illegal occupation. “This was not an impromptu protest. It was a calculated and deliberate act that caused real damage,” a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office said. The felony charges reflect the seriousness of the alleged crimes and the impact on university operations and property. The protest at Stanford was one of many that occurred across U.S. college campuses in 2024 amid growing unrest and demonstrations against the war in Gaza. According to the Associated Press, at least 86 incidents involving arrests were recorded during campus protests over the spring. The university has not yet commented publicly on the charges but had previously condemned the incident, noting the safety risks and significant disruption caused to campus operations. The case continues to unfold as legal proceedings move forward, with the arraignments expected to draw national attention amid ongoing debates about protest rights and the limits of civil disobedience. Based on a reports by NYP 2025-04-12 Related Topics: Pro-Palestinian Protesters Take Over Columbia Hamilton Hall "Intifada" hangs from windows Police Retake Building from Pro-Palestinian Protesters at UC Irvine Russia & China Manipulating UK Public Opinion by Promoting Pro-Palestinian Rhetoric If You’re Tearing Down Hostage Posters, ‘you’re not pro-Palestinian — you’re pro-Hamas’ Anti-Israel radical at Columbia University event ‘Nothing wrong with being a Hamas fighter’

Harvard Advisor Resigns Amid Accusations of Aiding Hamas Operations in Gaza Billionaire Palestinian-American businessman Bashar Masri has stepped down from his position on the Dean’s Council at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government following a lawsuit that accuses him of providing material support to Hamas through development projects in Gaza. The Kennedy School confirmed the resignation, stating, “Mr. Masri has resigned from the Dean’s Council. The lawsuit raises serious allegations that should be vetted and addressed through the legal process.” The resignation comes just days after a civil suit was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. by nearly 200 relatives of victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The suit alleges that Masri aided the terror group by facilitating the construction of underground tunnels and rocket launch sites on properties he helped develop in Gaza. According to the plaintiffs, these properties included a Gaza-based industrial park near the Israeli border and luxury hotels used by Hamas operatives. Masri, a well-known figure in Palestinian development, is best recognized for spearheading the creation of Rawabi, a modern city in the West Bank. His work has earned praise from international organizations and governments, including the U.S., European Union, United Nations, and World Bank. Through his holding company, Massar International, and his chairmanship of the Palestine Development and Investment Company (PADICO), Masri directed multiple construction projects across the Palestinian territories. The civil complaint asserts that “Defendants provided services that legitimized Hamas and gave its operations under and within Defendants’ properties greater protection from Israeli and U.S. action.” It further states, “All of this assistance was beneficial to Hamas in sustaining its iron-fisted rule in Gaza and in committing acts of international terrorism.” The legal team includes prominent attorneys such as Lee Wolosky, who served under four U.S. presidents, and Gary Osen, known for representing Holocaust victims’ families. In response, Masri’s office strongly denied the accusations, calling the lawsuit “baseless.” The statement added, “Neither he nor those entities have ever engaged in unlawful activity or provided support for violence and militancy. Bashar Masri has been involved in development and humanitarian work for the past decades.” The lawsuit claims that Masri knowingly violated the Anti-Terrorism Act by assisting Hamas in the lead-up to the October 7 massacre, which killed 1,200 people, including 46 Americans, and led to 254 hostages being taken into Gaza. Among the plaintiffs are relatives of victims such as Itay Chen and Hersh Goldberg-Polin, as well as high-profile figures including Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter and philanthropist Eyal Waldman, whose daughter was murdered at the Nova music festival. Photos submitted in the complaint show Masri signing a 2022 joint venture agreement for the Gaza Industrial Estate (GIE) with senior Hamas officials, including Abdel Fattah Zrai and University of Gaza professor Dr. Muhamad Ziyara, both linked to Hamas tunnel construction. The GIE project, which manufactures goods ranging from pharmaceuticals to Coca-Cola products, reportedly received substantial funding from the World Bank, USAID, and other international bodies. The lawsuit describes how the GIE and nearby hotels like the Blue Beach Resort and Al Mashtal Hotel—now the Ayan Hotel—were used to conceal tunnel shafts and serve as operational bases for Hamas, with anti-tank weaponry even placed in water towers. It also states that former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, killed by the IDF in 2024, frequently used these hotels as a command center for launching attacks against Israel. Masri had previously acknowledged his role in planning the First Intifada but has since cultivated an image as a proponent of peace and development. In a 2019 interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes,” he said, “If we can build a city — a futuristic city, a secular city, a democratic city — then we can build a state.” Despite this image, the lawsuit claims that beneath the surface, Masri’s projects became deeply entangled with Hamas infrastructure. Based on a report by NYP 2025-04-12

Trump Proposes Path for Undocumented Workers to Return Legally With Employer Support President Donald Trump floated the idea of a possible pathway for undocumented immigrants working in U.S. farms and hotels to return to the country legally if they exit voluntarily and receive support from their employers. Though light on details, Trump’s remarks hint at a shift in tone toward a more pragmatic approach to immigration in key labor sectors. “We have to take care of our farmers, the hotels and, you know, the various places where they tend to, where they tend to need people,” Trump said at the meeting, which was open to the press. He outlined a vague process whereby undocumented workers could leave the country and return as legal laborers if their employers submitted letters vouching for their character and work ethic. “So a farmer will come in with a letter concerning certain people, saying they’re great, they’re working hard,” Trump explained. “We’re going to slow it down a little bit for them, and then we’re going to ultimately bring them back. They’ll go out. They’re going to come back as legal workers.” The phrase “slow it down a little bit for them” remained unclear, especially given the administration’s aggressive pursuit of immigration enforcement throughout Trump's tenure. The policy direction included ramped-up arrests and deportations in line with his campaign promise of sweeping deportations of undocumented immigrants. Still, Trump indicated a willingness to support those who left the country “in a nice way.” He added, “We’re going to work with them right from the beginning on, trying to get them back in legally. So it gives you real incentive. Otherwise they never come back. They’ll never be allowed once a certain period of time goes by, which is probably going to be 60 days.” Pressed for more information, White House spokesman Kush Desai issued a statement saying the Trump administration “is committed to delivering on the mandate that the American people gave to President Trump with a whole-of-government approach to secure our borders, enforce our immigration laws, mass deport criminal illegal migrants, and put America First.” Though the U.S. currently operates guest worker programs such as H-2A for agricultural workers and H-2B for temporary jobs in sectors like hospitality and tourism, employers often voice frustration over regulatory hurdles and processing delays. Trump has previously used the H-2B program in his own businesses. According to a White House official speaking to NBC News, Trump is interested in improving both the H-2A and H-2B visa programs. Advocates for farmworkers and immigrants have consistently pushed for better oversight of these programs to prevent exploitation and poor living and working conditions. Trump’s comments followed remarks from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who promoted a new policy requiring undocumented individuals to register with the Department of Homeland Security through an app called “CBP Home” or risk criminal charges and fines. A federal judge has allowed the rule to proceed. Undocumented labor plays a significant role in the U.S. economy. The Department of Agriculture estimates that around 40% of crop farmworkers lack legal status, and the American Immigration Council found that approximately 1.1 million undocumented workers were employed in the hospitality industry in 2023—representing 7.6% of that sector’s workforce. “What we are seeing is President Trump beginning the negotiations of what a Trump-based immigration plan would look like,” said Artemio Muniz, an attorney and employer who works with the American Business Immigration Coalition, though he spoke in a personal capacity. “We now want to secure the undocumented workers because we don't want to lose them, because if we do, we see an increase in costs. I respect the fact that Trump is willing to initiate the discussion.” Based on a report by NBC News 2025-04-12

Trump Presses Putin for Ukraine Ceasefire as Witkoff Holds High-Level Talks in St Petersburg In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Friday, marking their third encounter this year. The high-level meeting lasted over four hours and centered on what the Kremlin described as "aspects of a Ukrainian settlement." As talks unfolded, former President Donald Trump publicly urged Russia to accelerate efforts toward a ceasefire in Ukraine, expressing deep frustration over the ongoing conflict. "Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere [sic] DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war," Trump wrote on social media Friday. His direct message to Putin came as European nations pledged €21 billion ($24 billion) in military aid to Kyiv. Despite these efforts, European defense ministers stated they saw no indication that the war was nearing an end. Kirill Dmitriev, special envoy and head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, described the talks between Witkoff and Putin as “productive.” Dmitriev had previously met with Witkoff at the Grand Hotel Europe in St Petersburg, ahead of the official engagement with the Russian president. He had also recently visited Washington, becoming the most senior Russian official to do so since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As speculation grows about the possibility of a future meeting between Trump and Putin, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov maintained a cautious stance. “Let’s see. It depends on what Witkoff has come with,” he said when asked if discussions could lead to setting a date for a Trump-Putin summit. Peskov also sought to lower expectations, saying, “No need to expect breakthroughs,” as the “process of normalising relations is ongoing.” While diplomatic efforts continued behind closed doors, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a poignant visit to his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, which suffered a deadly missile strike by Russian forces on April 4. Nineteen people were killed in the attack, including nine children. Zelensky laid flowers in front of photos of the young victims, including Herman Tripolets, nine, and seven-year-olds Arina Samodina and Radyslav Yatsko. During his visit, Zelensky accused Russia of prolonging the war and claimed that Chinese nationals were now being deployed alongside Russian troops. “We have information that at least several hundred Chinese nationals are fighting as part of Russia's occupation forces,” he said. “This means Russia is clearly trying to prolong the war even by using Chinese lives.” Zelensky also renewed calls for enhanced air defense capabilities. “We discussed this with President Trump – Ukraine is not just asking, we're ready to purchase these additional systems,” he posted online. “Only powerful weapons can truly be relied upon to protect life when you have a neighbour like Russia.” Trump, who has repeatedly insisted he could resolve the Ukraine-Russia conflict within 24 hours, reiterated his belief that the war would have never started had he been in office in 2022. “A war that should ld [sic] have never happened, and wouldn't have happened, if I were President!!!” he wrote. Despite recent attempts at diplomacy, tensions remain high. In February, U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia for their first face-to-face discussions since the invasion. However, a proposed ceasefire in the Black Sea collapsed after Russia insisted on the lifting of post-invasion sanctions. Trump has since expressed growing irritation, stating he is “very angry” and “pissed off” with Putin over the lack of progress in reaching a truce. This week, the U.S. and Russia completed a rare prisoner exchange. Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American sentenced to 12 years in prison for donating $51 to a Ukrainian charity, was released. In return, Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen accused of illegally exporting microelectronics to Russia for military use, was handed back to Moscow after his arrest in Cyprus in 2023. Based on a report by BBC 2025-04-12

In an escalation of its ideological campaign against perceived Western threats, Russia’s lawmakers have turned their attention to what they now describe as a direct threat to statehood—Satanism. At a recent meeting in Moscow, senior Russian MP Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the State Duma’s defence committee, declared that Satanism, much like the “international LGBT movement” previously outlawed by the Kremlin, represents a form of Western aggression aimed at undermining Russian sovereignty. “Satanism and everything connected with it must be considered as a direct threat to Russian statehood,” Kartapolov announced. He further alleged that satanic groups operating in Russia are being funded by foreign entities. “We need to look at what money and what means these satanists live on. Where are their books and posters printed, who pays for their concerts, shows, performances, the renting of halls, bars, and clubs?” he asked, calling it a “form of warfare waged by the united West against our country.” The parliamentary meeting, focused on “counteracting the spread of satanism and other destructive cults and ideologies,” began with a prayer session. Participants appealed to the Holy Spirit to “cleanse us of all impurities.” The session marked yet another chapter in President Vladimir Putin’s framing of the war in Ukraine and Russia’s wider geopolitical struggle as a spiritual battle, one in which Christian traditional values are under siege by foreign forces. Putin and his allies have repeatedly invoked the rhetoric of defending Russia from moral decay, describing their military actions as a crusade against Western liberalism, LGBT rights, and now, Satan himself. The shift is especially dramatic given the history of the Soviet Union, during which the state imposed official atheism and persecuted religious institutions. Nikolai Burlyayev, a Soviet-era actor turned pro-Kremlin MP, added sensational claims to the discussion, alleging without evidence that reports of “satanic sex orgies” had been received from several Russian cities. Kartapolov called for legislation similar to the 2023 laws that designated members of the alleged global LGBT movement as “extremists and terrorists.” That law equated the non-existent movement with groups like Islamic State and al-Qaeda, allowing for prison sentences of up to ten years for those found guilty. Critics have expressed concern over the vague and expansive nature of these legal categories. “If this becomes law, they could arrest absolutely anyone on suspicion of satanism,” said a Moscow resident, who requested anonymity. “I mean, how can you prove that you don’t worship Satan?” Anna Shafran, a television host with the Orthodox Christian network Spas, claimed—again without evidence—that Ukrainian intelligence agencies were attempting to infiltrate satanic groups within Russia to recruit operatives for terrorist activity. She urged law enforcement to scrutinise detainees’ tattoos, lamenting the lack of Russian experts in “infernal symbolism.” Fyodor Lukyanov, a senior church official, presented a chart titled “Common features of the LGBT Movement and the Satanic Movement,” asserting a connection between the two. He claimed both use similar recruitment tactics and commit sacrilegious acts against religious symbols. Despite the official crackdown on satanism, the Kremlin has shown a willingness to recruit individuals with satanic or neo-pagan affiliations for its war in Ukraine. In 2023, Nikolai Ogolobyak, a convicted member of a satanist gang notorious for murder and cannibalism, was released from prison to serve on the front lines. After six months of military service, he was pardoned by Putin. That same year, Rusich, a Russian paramilitary group, posted online about seeking a Ukrainian prisoner for a “ritual sacrifice to Slavic gods.” Questions remain over how such a ban would affect cultural works like *The Master and Margarita*, the iconic novel by Mikhail Bulgakov that features the devil visiting Moscow. The book is considered a classic of Russian literature, and a recent film adaptation became one of the country’s highest-grossing films. This campaign against satanism and LGBT rights is part of a broader crackdown on Western influence since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Recent legislative efforts have also targeted so-called “child-free ideology” and even the subculture of children pretending to be animals, known in Russia as kvadrobing. Despite the high-profile topic, attendance at the parliamentary session was lower than expected. Kartapolov noted the lack of turnout with a hint of irony, saying that many MPs were “wary of signing up as open enemies of Lucifer.” Based on a report by The Times 2025-04-11

Hamas Challenges UK Terror Ban, Citing Human Rights and Peace Efforts Hamas has launched a legal bid to overturn its designation as a terrorist organisation by the UK government, claiming the ban violates the European Convention on Human Rights and obstructs peace efforts in the Middle East. The Islamist group has filed a 106-page application through British lawyers, arguing that the decision to proscribe the group is legally unsound and morally unjustified. The legal action is directed at the Home Office’s decision to list Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist group, making it a criminal offence in the UK to support or associate with it. Hamas contends that the ban breaches fundamental rights, stating it “unlawfully restricts freedom of speech” and asserting that the organisation “does not pose any threat to Britain or British citizens.” In the legal document obtained by The Times, Hamas accuses the UK of siding with what it calls the “Zionist oppressor,” urging Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to reverse what it described as Britain’s “morally and legally indefensible policy.” The group also alleges that the UK is ignoring its “duties” under international law to help “end genocide” and that the proscription undermines efforts toward a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, has been outlawed in the UK since 2001. In 2021, then-Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel extended the ban to the group’s political wing, stating there was no meaningful distinction between the two. Patel defended the proscription in response to the legal challenge, saying, “Hamas is an evil Iranian-backed terrorist organisation, which kidnaps, tortures and murders people, including British nationals. They pose an ongoing threat to our security and to the peace and stability of the Middle East.” Mousa Abu Marzouk, the head of Hamas’s foreign relations office. She added, “They show no respect for human rights, life and dignity and have oppressed people living in Gaza for too long. Eighteen months ago, Hamas carried out the worst terror attack in Israel’s history and the most murderous pogrom against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. It continues to hold 59 innocent hostages in cruel captivity. Nobody should be in any doubt about the true nature and intentions of Hamas.” In its legal application, Hamas describes itself as “an organised resistance movement that exercises the right of the Palestinian people to resist Zionism and the colonisation, occupation, apartheid and genocide carried out in its name.” The legal team involved has clarified that they are not being paid by Hamas, in accordance with UK law that prohibits financial transactions with proscribed groups. Furthermore, the legal profession’s cab rank rule does not compel barristers to take on such cases. Some lawyers associated with the case have previously made controversial remarks. On the day of Hamas’s October 7 attacks, which killed more than 1,100 Israelis, barrister Magennis tweeted, “Victory to the intifada.” If the Home Office rejects the application, Hamas can appeal to the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (POAC), though such reversals are rare. Since the Terrorism Act 2000 came into effect, only four organisations have successfully been removed from the banned list. A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews criticised the legal challenge, stating, “As Palestinians in Gaza protest for the removal of Hamas, this deeply misconceived challenge shows the regrettable addiction of large parts of the UK Palestine movement to the terrorist organisation Hamas. Hamas documented their own record of murder, rape, and kidnap on October 7th 2023 in obscene detail. Hamas has been proscribed in the UK since 2021 for its longstanding record of terror. The firm and others assisting them in bringing this case for Hamas should be ashamed of their support for a proscribed terrorist organisation.” Based on a report by The Times 2025-04-11 Related Topic: New UK Parliament Report: Unveiling the Horrors of 7 October A Truth That Cannot Be Denied