The Taliban administration has directed all national and foreign NGOs in Afghanistan employing women to shut down. Non-compliance will result in the cancellation of operational licenses. Women in Afghanistan face tough restrictions since the Taliban’s return, including exclusion from jobs, education restrictions beyond sixth grade, and limits on public space access.
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Austrian far-right leader Herbert Kickl announced the collapse of his coalition talks with the conservative Austrian People's Party. Kickl, who won 28.8 per cent of the vote in the September election, had been mandated to form a government after previous negotiations failed. Disputes over policies and ministerial positions led to the breakdown. Austria's political future remains uncertain, with interim chancellor Alexander Schallenberg in charge.
A federal judge has mandated the disclosure of records from an initiative led by Elon Musk and established by President Trump, citing unusual secrecy. Another judge has blocked the initiative's access to sensitive treasury records, finding such access violates federal law as it affects the central payment system managing trillions in federal payments.
​"The military is amazing in what they do...What they are not very good at doing is identifying 12 teenage boys flying Walmart drones in New Jersey. The military is not very good at dealing with that," Congressman Jim Himes, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said downplaying the mystery.
As part of the ceasefire, Israel released 600 Palestinian prisoners, including long-serving inmates and those convicted of deadly attacks, in exchange for the remains of four Israeli hostages. Since January 19, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners have been freed. Meanwhile, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, including 13 Israeli soldiers and five foreign nationals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Vladimir Putin is soon to die, as speculation about the Russian leader's health intensifies. Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron presented a unified stance, urging EU solidarity and increased military aid amidst ongoing conflicts and unreliable ceasefire agreements.
China unveiled its advanced amphibious assault ship, the Type 076 vessel named Sichuan, in Shanghai. The ship, equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system, enhances China's naval combat capabilities. This marks progress despite corruption issues within the PLA. The Sichuan will now undergo tests and sea trials to further bolster its operational readiness.
Elon Musk criticized Republican senator Todd Young, calling him a 'deep state puppet' over Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation, but later retracted after a conversation with Young. The senator's stance on Gabbard's nomination for DNI has sparked intense criticism from many Republicans. Senator Yong will be a great ally in restoring power to the people from the vast, unelected bureaucracy," Elon Musk posted hinting that he probably convinced him.
Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Green Beret and ardent Trump supporter, shot himself before his Tesla Cybertruck exploded near the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. His uncle who is also a veteran, Dean Livelsberger, said he was a huge Trump supporter and a patriot and exploding such an amateurish thing given his military training did not add up.
Jury consultant David Barnard explains the "attractive-defendant effect" which is a well-established phenomenon that he said could impact the Luigi Mangione's case. ​"For example, jurors who believe Mangione committed the crime might still be inclined to find him guilty of a lesser charge if such an option exists, particularly if factors, such as mental illness, are introduced," Barnard said.
Chesley B. Sullenberger III, the pilot who safely landed a passenger plane in the Hudson River in 2009, said the DC plane crash Wednesday night was caused by two factors though they are nothing technical and the aviation industry is now exceptionally safe. The descent was at night and over water and these two factors brought about the tragic crash that killed 64 people on board an American Airlines flight which collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers on board mid-air.